Chapter I: Front Matter

WYLDER'S HAND

A NOVEL

by

J. SHERIDAN LE FANU

First published 1864

CONTENTS

CHAP.

I.--RELATING HOW I RODE THROUGH THE VILLAGE OF GYLINGDEN WITH MARK WYLDER'S LETTER IN MY VALISE

II.--IN WHICH I ENTER THE DRAWING-ROOM

III.--OUR DINNER-PARTY AT BRANDON

IV.--IN WHICH WE GO TO THE DRAWING-ROOM AND THE PARTY BREAKS UP

V.--IN WHICH MY SLUMBER IS DISTURBED

VI.--IN WHICH DORCAS BRANDON SPEAKS

VII.--RELATING HOW A LONDON GENTLEMAN APPEARED IN REDMAN'S DELL

VIII.--IN WHICH CAPTAIN LAKE TAKES HIS HAT AND STICK

IX.--I SEE THE RING OF THE PERSIAN MAGICIAN

X.--THE ACE OF HEARTS

XI.--IN WHICH LAKE UNDER THE TREES OF BRANDON, AND I IN MY CHAMBER, SMOKE OUR NOCTURNAL CIGARS

XII.--IN WHICH UNCLE LORNE TROUBLES ME

XIII.--THE PONY CARRIAGE

XIV.--IN WHICH VARIOUS PERSONS GIVE THEIR OPINIONS OF CAPTAIN STANLEY LAKE

XV.--DORCAS SHOWS HER JEWELS TO MISS LAKE

XVI.--"JENNY PUT THE KETTLE ON"

XVII.--RACHEL LAKE SEES WONDERFUL THINGS BY MOONLIGHT FROM HER WINDOW

XVIII.--MARK WYLDER'S SLAVE

XIX.--THE TARN IN THE PARK

XX.--CAPTAIN LAKE TAKES AN EVENING STROLL ABOUT GYLINGDEN

XXI.--IN WHICH CAPTAIN LAKE VISITS HIS SISTER'S SICK BED

XXII.--IN WHICH CAPTAIN LAKE MEETS A FRIEND NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE

XXIII.--HOW RACHEL SLEPT THAT NIGHT IN REDMAN'S FARM

XXIV.--DORCAS BRANDON PAYS RACHEL A VISIT

XXV.--CAPTAIN LAKE LOOKS IN AT NIGHTFALL

XXVI.--CAPTAIN LAKE FOLLOWS TO LONDON

XXVII.--LAWYER LARKIN'S MIND BEGINS TO WORK

XXVIII.--MARK WYLDER'S SUBMISSION

XXIX.--HOW MARK WYLDER'S DISAPPEARANCE AFFECTED HIS FRIENDS

XXX.--IN BRANDON PARK

XXXI.--IN REDMAN'S DELL

XXXII.--MR. LARKIN AND THE VICAR

XXXIII.--THE LADIES OF GYLINGDEN HEATH

XXXIV.--SIR JULIUS HOCKLEY'S LETTER

XXXV.--THE HUNT BALL

XXXVI.--THE BALL ROOM

XXXVII.--THE SUPPER-ROOM

XXXVIII.--AFTER THE BALL

XXXIX.--IN WHICH MISS RACHEL LAKE COMES TO BRANDON, AND DOCTOR BUDDLE CALLS AGAIN

XL.--THE ATTORNEY'S ADVENTURES ON THE WAY HOME

XLI.--IN WHICH SIR FRANCIS SEDDLEY MANIPULATES

XLII.--A PARAGRAPH IN THE COUNTY PAPER

XLIII.--AN EVIL EYE LOOKS ON THE VICAR

XLIV.--IN WHICH OLD TAMAR LIFTS UP HER VOICE IN PROPHECY

XLV.--DEEP AND SHALLOW

XLVI.--DEBATE AND INTERRUPTION

XLVII.--A THREATENING NOTICE

XLVIII.--IN WHICH I GO TO BRANDON, AND SEE AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE IN THE TAPESTRY ROOM

XLIX.--LARCOM, THE BUTLER, VISITS THE ATTORNEY

L.--NEW LIGHTS

LI.--A FRACAS IN THE LIBRARY

LII.--AN OLD FRIEND LOOKS INTO THE GARDEN AT REDMAN'S FARM

LIII.--THE VICAR'S COMPLICATIONS, WHICH LIVELY PEOPLE HAD BETTER NOT READ

LIV.--BRANDON CHAPEL ON SUNDAY

LV.--THE CAPTAIN AND THE ATTORNEY CONVERSE AMONG THE TOMBS

LVI.--THE BRANDON CONSERVATORY

LVII.--CONCERNING A NEW DANGER WHICH THREATENED CAPTAIN STANLEY LAKE

LVIII.--MISS RACHEL LAKE BECOMES VIOLENT

LIX.--AN ENEMY IN REDMAN'S DELL

LX.--RACHEL LAKE BEFORE THE ACCUSER

LXI.--IN WHICH DAME DUTTON IS VISITED

LXII.--THE CAPTAIN EXPLAINS WHY MARK WYLDER ABSCONDED

LXIII.--THE ACE OF HEARTS

LXIV.--IN THE DUTCH ROOM

LXV.--I REVISIT BRANDON HALL

LXVI.--LADY MACBETH

LXVII.--MR. LARKIN IS VIS-A-VIS WITH A CONCEALED COMPANION

LXVIII.--THE COMPANION DISCLOSES HIMSELF

LXIX.--OF A SPECTRE WHOM OLD TAMAR SAW

LXX.--THE MEETING IN THE LONG POND ALLEY

LXXI.--SIR HARRY BRACTON'S INVASION OF GYLINGDEN

LXXII.--MARK WYLDER'S HAND

LXXIII.--THE MASK FALLS

LXXIV.--WE TAKE LEAVE OF OUR FRIENDS

WYLDER'S HAND.