WYLDER'S HAjYD.
471
marvellously preserved, in its then state, certainty was
hardly attainable. But there was a perfectly satisfactory
identification of the dress and properties of the corpse as
those of Mr. Mark Wylder. On the other hand there
was the testimony of Lord Chelford, who put Captain
Lake's deposition in evidence, as also the testimony of
Larkin, and the equally precise evidence of Larcom, the
butler.
The proceedings had reached this point when an occur-
rence took place which startled Lord Chelford. Larkin,
Larcom, and every one in the room who was familiar with
Mark Wylder's appearance.
A man pushed his way to the front of the crowd, and
for a moment it seemed that Mark Wylder stood living
before them.
"Who are you ?" said Lord Chelford.
"Jim Dutton, sir; I come by reason of what I read
in the 'Chronicle' over night, about Mr. Mark Wylder
being found."
"Do you know anything of him?" asked the Coroner.
"Nowt," answered the man bluffly, "only I writ to
Mr. Larkin there, as I wanted to see him. I remember
him well when I was a boy. I seed him in the train from
Lunnon t'other night; and he seed me on the Shillings-
worth platform, and I think he took me for some one else,
I was comin' down to see the Captain at Brandon — and
seed him the same night."
"Why have you come here? " asked the Coroner.
"Thinkin' I might be mistook," answered the man.
"I was twice here in England, and three times abroad."
"For whom?"
"Mr. Mark Wylder." answered he.
"It is a wonderful likeness," said Lord Chelford.
Larkin stared at him with his worst expression; and
Larcom, I think, thought he was the Devil.