'So you are going to London--_to-morrow_, is not it?' said Captain Lake, when on the green of Gylingden where visitors were promenading, and the militia bands playing lusty polkas, he met Mr. Jos. Larkin, in lavender trousers and kid gloves, new hat, metropolitan black frock-coat, and shining French boots--the most elegant as well as the most Christian of provincial attorneys. 'Ah, yes--I think--should my engagements permit--of starting early to-morrow. The fact is, Captain Lake, our poor friend the vicar, you know, the Rev. William Wylder, has pressing occasion for some money, and I can't leave him absolutely in the hands of Burlington and Smith.' 'No, of course--quite so,' said Lake, with that sly smile which made every fellow on whom it lighted somehow fancy that the captain had divined his secret. 'Very honest fellows, with good looking after--eh?' The attorney laughed a little awkwardly, with his pretty pink blush over his long face. 'Well, I'm far from saying that, but it is their business, you know, to take care of _their_ client; and it would not do to give them the handling of _mine_. Can I do anything, Captain Lake, for you while in town?' 'Nothing on earth, thank you very much. But I am thinking of doing something for you. You've interested yourself a great deal about Mark Wylder's movements.' 'Not more than my duty clearly imposed.' 'Yes; but notwithstanding it will operate, I'm afraid, as you will presently see, rather to his prejudice. For to prevent your conjectural interference from doing him a more serious mischief, I will now, and here, if you please, divulge the true and only cause of his absconding. It is fair to mention, however, that your knowing it will make you fully as odious to him as I am--and that, I assure you, is very odious indeed. There were four witnesses beside myself--Lieutenant-Colonel Jermyn, Sir James Carter, Lord George Vanbrugh, and Ned Clinton. '_Witnesses_! Captain Lake. Do you allude to a legal matter?' enquired Larkin, with his look of insinuating concern and enquiry. 'Quite the contrary--a very lawless matter, indeed. These four gentlemen, beside myself, were present at the occurrence. But perhaps you've heard of it?' said the captain, 'though that's not likely.' 'Not that I recollect, Captain Lake,' answered Jos. Larkin. 'Well, it is not a thing you'd forget easily--and indeed it was a very well kept secret, as well as an ugly one,' and Lake smiled in his sly quizzical way. 'And _where_, Captain Lake, did it occur, may I enquire?' said Larkin, with his charming insinuation.