"
"And what part of the country did he come from: do you happen
to know?" inquired Morley, evidently much interested, though
he attempted to conceal his emotion.
"He may be a veritable subject of the kingdom of Cockaigne,
for aught I know," replied his friend. "He has been buried in
this inn I believe for years; for very many before I settled
here; and for a long time I apprehend was sufficiently
obscure, though doing they say a great deal in a small way;
but the Mallory case made his fortune about ten years ago.
That was a barony by writ of summons which had been claimed a
century before, and failed. Hatton seated his man, and the
precedent enabled three or four more gentlemen under his
auspices to follow that example. They were Roman Catholics,
which probably brought him the Mallory case, for Hatton is of
the old church; better than that, they were all gentlemen of
great estate, and there is no doubt their champion was well
rewarded for his successful service. They say he is very
rich. At present all the business of the country connected
with descents flows into his chambers. Not a pedigree in
dispute, not a peerage in abeyance, which is not submitted to
his consideration.
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