Lord
de Mowbray renewed his acquaintance with a man who was
successful; bowed to Hatton whenever they met; and finally
consulted him respecting the barony of Valence which had been
in the old Fitz-Warene and Mowbray families and to which it
was thought the present earl might prefer some hocus-pocus
claim through his deceased mother; so that however recent was
his date as an English earl, he might figure on the roll as a
Plantagenet baron, which in the course of another century
would complete the grand mystification of high nobility. The
death of his son dexterously christened Valence had a little
damped his ardour in this respect; but still there was a
sufficiently intimate connection kept up between him and
Hatton; so that before he placed the letter he had received in
the hands of his lawyers he thought it desirable to consult
his ancient ally.
This was the reason that Lord de Mowbray was at the present
moment seated in the same chair in the same library as was a
few days back that worthy baronet, Sir Vavasour Firebrace. Mr
Hatton was at the same table similarly employed; his Persian
cat on his right hand, and his choice spaniels reposing on
their cushions at his feet.
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