A Heart's Bitterness — page 234: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

26 A HEART'S BITTERNESS. sold out to the person now called Lord Leigh, whose wife ig rich enough to pay any price to maintain the title of her child. We could have sold the evidence for any sum, and that evidence would have been forever destroyed. But the gentleman to whom I refer is already wealthy, and he has lived so long in Australia, making his fortune, that he did not estimate the value of the facts in his possession, nor how important to either you or Lord Leigh they would be. When I suggested that duty and justice required that they should be laid before you, he allowed me to come. Will you read this statement?” She handed the colonel the same paper which she had tossed to Leigh a few days before in the “ Folly.” The colonel read it with breathless eagerness. His wife followed the lines, leaning over his shoulder. ‘And this is true?” they cried, simultaneously. «‘ Will you refer it to your lawyer?” said Helen. ‘*T am Countess of Leigh,” cried Lady Clare, in transport. CHAPTER L. - BIGAMY OR NO BIGAMY. The firm of Wells & Epston enjoyed one of the highest reputations in London, indeed in all England, for shrewd practice and business management. Their office was thronged with clients, bringing them difficult cases. Their fame was not only popular, but professional. Other lawyers feared and respected them. This firm had been, since its establishment, the legal advisers of the Hartingtons, and the rich colonel, who was possibly to be Lord of Leigh, had enjoyed a large share of _ the cares and counsels of these eminent barristers. Not three hours after Helen Hope’s interview with Colonel Hartington, the colonel drove with furious haste _ to the Temple, and with much eagerness demanded a pri- vate interview with the firm. Having made his report, he laid before them the paper which Miss Hope had given him. It was in her clear, bold hand, a statement of the case made out, and a list of the evidence procurable. Nothing could be more clear. = - | Eomicbooks co