Lady Joan looked up.
"Come here, Joan, and tell me who this is," and Lady Joan was
at his side in a moment.
"It is the livery of the Bardolfs," said Lady Joan.
"I always call them Firebrace; I cannot get out of it," said
Mr Mountchesney. "Well, I am glad it is they; I thought it
might be an irruption of barbarians. Lady Bardolf will bring
us some news."
Lord and Lady Bardolf were not alone; they were accompanied by
a gentleman who had been staying on a visit at Firebrace, and
who, being acquainted with Lord de Mowbray, had paid his
respects to the castle in his way to London. This gentleman
was the individual who had elevated them to the peerage--Mr
Hatton. A considerable intimacy had sprung up between him and
his successful clients. Firebrace was an old place rebuilt in
the times of the Tudors, but with something of its more
ancient portions remaining, and with a storehouse of muniments
that had escaped the civil wars. Hatton revelled in them, and
in pursuing his researches, had already made discoveries which
might perhaps place the coronet of the earldom of Lovel on the
brow of the former champion of the baronetage, who now however
never mentioned the Order.
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