The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 371: what you’re looking at

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

RAO AT EARL MONTGOMERY’S MANSION 337 than professional reserve,’ exclaimed Lord Montgomery, ‘“ and tell me candidly and as a friend whether you feel con- vinced that the decrees will be in our favour.”’ ‘ Nothing, my lord, is certain in this world,” responded 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,” insisted Lord Montgomery, ‘‘ must prove overwhelming.” “Tt will have its weight, my lord,’’ said the attorney. ‘‘By the bye, your brother, Lord Raymond Montgomery, should be in London in the course of the week, as his presence is indispensable. You remember how singular is that clause of your ancestor’s will under which he claims the Warwick- shire estates.”’ “Indeed, I can scarcely have forgotten a single syllable of a testamentary provision so vitally important to our family interests,’ observed Lord Montgomery. “ But I will write to my brother to-morrow,” he added, hastily, ‘‘and I will urge him to come up to town without delay. I have not heard from him, nor indeed of him, for some weeks past.” ‘“‘ His melancholy disposition leads him to seek the retire- ment of a rural existence,’ observed the attorney. ‘ But does his lordship still feel as much as ever that disappoint- ment which his heart’s affections 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 sad blow to your unhappy brother, inasmuch as it des- troyed the last hope which he could possibly have cher- ished — ”’ ‘ Yes, he no doubt loved Fernanda very dearly,’’ observed Lord Montgomery, with a certain hastiness, amounting almost to a pettishness of manner, as if he either disliked the subject, or thought it irrelevant at that moment. ‘I suppose that now the Master’s report is ready, judgment will be delivered very shortly? ” “We have every reason to hope so, my lord,” returned Mr. Rigden. ‘“ But in case your lordship should forget to write to Lord Raymond to-morrow, I will myself communi- (Eo) ANC 6)(0)©)