'Oh! you have? May one hear it?' said Lake, in the same silken tone, and looking down, as before, on his boots.
'I've discovered something about his letters,' said the attorney, and paused.
'Satisfactory, I hope?' said Lake as before.
'Foul play, Sir.'
'Foul play—is there? What is he doing now?' said Lake in the same languid way, his elbows on the arms of his chair, stooping forward, and looking serenely on the floor, like a man who is tired of his work, and enjoys his respite.
'Why, Captain Lake, the matter is this—it amounts, in fact, to fraud. It is plain that the letters are written in batches—several at a time—and committed to some one to carry from town to town, and post, having previously filled in dates to make them correspond with the exact period of posting them.'
The attorney's searching gaze was fixed on the captain, as he said this, with all the significance consistent with civility; but he could not observe the slightest indication of change. I dare say the captain felt his gaze upon him, and he undoubtedly heard his emphasis, but he plainly did not take either to himself.
'Indeed! that is very odd,' said Captain Lake.
'Very odd;' echoed the attorney.
It struck Mr. Larkin that his gallant friend was a little overacting, and showing perhaps less interest in the discovery than was strictly natural.