THAT evoked spirit, Dingwell, was now _functus officio_, and might be dismissed. He was as much afraid of the light of London--even the gaslight--as a man of his audacity could be of anything. Still he lingered there. Mr. Larkin had repeatedly congratulated the Verney peer, and his young friend and patron, Cleve, upon his own masterly management, and the happy result of the case, as he called it. And although, with scriptural warning before him, he would be the last man in the world to say, "Is not this great Babylon that I have builded?" Yet he did wish Lord Viscount Verney, and Cleve Verney, M.P., distinctly to understand that _he_, Mr. Larkin, had been the making of them. There were some things--very many things, in fact, all desirable--which those distinguished persons could effect for the good attorney of Glyngden, and that excellent person in consequence presented himself diligently at Verney House. On the morning I now speak of, he was introduced to the library, where he found the peer and his nephew. "I ventured to call, my lord--how do you do, Mr. Verney?--to invite your lordship's attention to the position of Mr. Dingwell, who is compelled by lack of funds to prolong his stay in London. He is, I may say, most anxious to take his departure quietly and expeditiously, for Constantinople, where, I venture to think, it is expedient for all parties, that his residence should be fixed, rather than in London, where he is in hourly danger of detection and arrest, the consequence of which, my lord;--it will probably have struck your lordship's rapid apprehension already,--would be, I venture to think, a very painful investigation of his past life, and a concomitant discrediting of his character, which although, as your lordship would point out to me, it cannot disturb that which is already settled, would yet produce an unpleasant effect out of doors, which, it is to be feared, he would take care to aggravate by all means in his power, were he to refer his detention here, and consequent arrest, to any fancied economy on your lordship's part." "I don't quite follow you about it, Mr. Larkin," said Lord Verney, who generally looked a little stern when he was puzzled. "I don't quite apprehend the drift--be good enough to sit down--about it--of your remarks, as they bear upon Mr. Dingwell's wishes, and my conduct. Do _you_, Cleve?" "I conjecture that Dingwell wants more money, and can't be got out of London without it," said Cleve. "Eh? Well, that _did_ occur to me; of _course_, that's plain enough--about it--and _what_ a man that must be! and--God bless me! about it--all the money he has got from me! It's incredible, Mr.--a--_Larkin_, three hundred pounds, you know, and he wanted _five_, and that absurdly enormous weekly payment besides!"