"
"Destroy that deed and the other muniments, and the Earl de
Mowbray will never be Baron Valence," said Mr Hatton.
"But what use are these deeds now?" said his lordship. "If
we produce them, we may give a colour to this fellow's claim."
"Time will settle his claim," said Mr Hatton; "it will mature
yours. You can wait."
"Alas! since the death of my poor boy--"
"It has become doubly important. Substantiate the barony, it
will descend to your eldest daughter, who, even if married,
will retain your name. Your family will live, and ennobled.
The Fitz-Warenes Lords Valence will yield to none in
antiquity; and as to rank, as long as Mowbray Castle belongs
to them, the revival of the earldom is safe at the first
coronation, or the first ministry that exists with a balanced
state of parties."
"That is the right view of the case," said Lord de Mowbray;
"and what do you advise?"
"Be calm, and you have nothing to fear. This is the mere
revival of an old claim, too vast to be allowed to lapse from
desuetude. Your documents you say are all secure?"
"Be sure of that. They are at this moment in the muniment
room of the great tower of Mowbray Castle; in the same iron
box and in the same cabinet they were deposited--"
"When, by placing them in your hands," said Mr Hatton
finishing a sentence which might have been awkward, "I had the
extreme satisfaction of confirming the rights and calming the
anxieties of one of our ancient houses.
Pages:
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463