be a very serious blow to lose this. He did not, he hoped, care for money
more than a good man ought; but such a loss, he would say, he could not
afford.

Precisely the same, however, was to be said of his connection with Mark
Wylder; and in fact, of late years, Mr. Jos. Larkin, of the Lodge, had
begun to put by money so fast that he was growing rapidly to be a very
considerable man indeed. 'Everything,' as he said, 'was doing very
nicely;' and it would be a deplorable thing to mar, by any untoward act,
this pilgrim's quiet and prosperous progress.

In this stage of his reverie he was interrupted by a tall, powdered
footman, in the Brandon livery, who came respectfully to announce that
his master desired to see Mr. Larkin.

Larkin's soul sneered at this piece of state. Why could he not put his
head in at the door and call him? But still I think it impressed him, and
that, diplomatically, Captain Lake was in the right to environ himself
with the ceremonial of a lord of Brandon.

'Well, Larkin, how d'ye do? Anything about Raikes's lease?' said the
great Captain Lake, rising from behind his desk, with his accustomed
smile, and extending his gentlemanlike hand.

'No, Sir--nothing, Captain Lake. He has not come, and I don't think we
should show any anxiety about it,' replied the attorney, taking the
captain's thin hand rather deferentially. 'I've had--a--such a letter
from my--my client, Mr. Mark Wylder. He writes in a violent passion, and
I'm really placed in a most disagreeable position.'