The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 86: what you’re looking at

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te a a ne a 7 THE MYSTERIES, an emotion—much less a feeling of excitement ;— in fine, he was one of those: shrewd, cautious, and even mistrustfal men who never take a step without looking well where they are about to tread, and never give utterance to a word without having de- liberately weighed it in all its probable or possible be “Well, Rigden,” said Lord Montgomery, rising to.proffer his hand to the lawyer, while the do- mestic who had introduced him retired immediately from the apartment: “what news? Has any- thing unpleasant happened ?” “Nothing anpleasant,” answered the attorney, abandoning the tips of two fingers to the noble- man’s grasp—for ho himeelf hated shaking hands and all similar proofs of friendship or social amenity. “Just as I was leaving my office this evening I received a certain notice from the Court ; and I thought that as I was compelled to visit your neighbourhood at about nine, I would call and communicate the circumstances to your lord- ship. “And what is the notice about?’ demanded Montgomery, literally trembling with feverish im- patience. “The notice, my lord,” said Mr. Rigden, taking out his gold snuff-box and deliberately indalging in a pinch of its contents, “is from the Court of Chancery, and is to the effect that the Master’s Anal report will be delivered in on Satarday next in the several matters of ‘Montgomery versus Bellenden,’ ‘Raymond Montgomery versus Bel- leaden, and ‘ Aylmer versus Bellenden.’” “On Saturday next?” repeated the nobleman, with the air of one who trembied at the close prox- imity of an event to which he had nevertheless been looking forward with so much anxiety. “'Yes—on Saturday next,” said Mr. Rigden. “Then all the fresh evidence has been put in?’ continued Montgomery in a tone of anxious in- qguiry: “all the rmportant and very remarkable tes- timony which I have procured from the country within the last few weeks ?”’ “It is all before the Master, my lord,” replied Mr. Rigden. “ Come, now—do throw off this hyperborean chill --this more than professional reserve,” exclaimed Lord Montgomery, “and tell me candidly and as a friend whether you feel convinced that the decrees will be in our favour.” “ Nothing, my lord, is certain in this world,’’ re- sponded the attorney, taking another pinch of snuff, and leaning forward in such a manner that not a grain should alight upon his snowy shirt-frill: “ and of all uncertain things the results of Chancery suits are the most incalculable,’ he added. “ But the evidence I procured the other day,” in- aisted Lord Montgomery, “ must prove overwhelm- ing 2” “It will have its weight, my lord,” said the at- torney. “ By the bye, your brother Lord Raymond Montgomery should be in London ia the course of the week, as his presence is indispensible. You remember how singular is that clanse of your an- cestor’s will under which he claims the Warwick- shire estates——” “Indeed, [ can scarcely have forgotten a single syllabie of a testamentary provision so vitally im- portant to our family interests,” observed Lord Monigomery. “But f will write to my brother (cnc eg Ge LO a ea rg rn arn rg to-morrow, he added hastily: “and I will urge him to come up to town withont delay. I have not heard from him, nor indeed of him, for some weeks past——” * His melancholy disposition leads him to seek the retirement of a rural existence,” observed the attorney. *“ But does his lordship still feel as much as evor that disappoinément which his heart's affeo- tions experienced? And, by the bye— when I think of it—the marriage of Miss Aylmer to Mr. Clarendon, now Lord Holderness, must have been a rad blow to your unhappy brother, inasmuch as it destroyed the last hope which he could possibly have cherished——” * Yes—he no doubt loved Fernanda very dearly,” observed Lord Montgomery, with a certain hasti- ness, amounting almost toa pettishness of man. ner—as if he either disliked the subject, or thought it irrelevant at that moment. “ I suppose that now the Master's report is ready, jadgment will be delivered very shortly >” | * We have every reason to hope so, my lord,” retarned Mr. Rigden. “ But in case your lordship should forget to write to Lord Raymond to-mor- row, I will myself communicate with him. I pre- sume a letter will reach him at Malden Farm?” “He was there when I heard of him last,” re- sponded Earl Montgomery. “You had better write to him yourself: it will be more regalar.” “I shall assuredly do so,” said the attorney, taking another pinch of snuff. “And now, before I leave your lordship,” he continued, a thought striking him, “I should wish to ask a certain question respecting a noble acquaintance of yours —and yet I scarcely know how to take such a liberty ——" “Do not hesitate, Mr. Rigden,” exclaimed Lord Montgomery. “If I can serve you in any manner, ‘I shall be delighted. To whom of my noble ac- quaintances do you allude ?” “To Lord Florimel,” answered the attorney. “But lest the questiou which I am desirous to ask your lordship should appear impertinent, I will explainin a few words my motives in puttiog it. The fact is that this very morning a noble client of mine introduced to me a young man who has sud- denly and strangely discovered certain grounds and reasons for supposing that he has claims of an extraordinary natare which would materially affect the fortane and the social position of Lord Fiorl. mel; and I must frankly confess that as far as I was enabled to look into the matter at the moment it was presented to me, the young man’s claims appear to be well worth a law-suit. At the same time, I have no doubt that he would listen to any reasonable terms for an amicable settlement with- out the intervention of the tribunals; and to this course I should recommend him to accede. The question, therefore, that I was desirous to ask your lordship, is whether Lord Zlorimel! is a man likely to treat the affair in a friendly way if it be sub- mitted to him in the same spirit—or whether he is one of those obstinate individuals who, believing that possession is worth nine points of the law, wili plunge headlong into Chancery with a neck or nothing determination.” “J should say that Lord Florimel will listen to reason,” answered Montgomery. “ But I am sorry to hear that he is menaced in so serious a manner—and I am pretty sure that he suspects nothing of the GOH GOO SS