rveying the signature
of the letter. "A very respectable firm."

"That makes it more strange," said his Lordship.

"It does," said Mr Hatton.

"A respectable firm would hardly embark in such a proceeding without
some show of pretext," said Lord de Mowbray.

"Hardly," said Mr Hatton.

"But what can they have?" urged his Lordship.

"What indeed!" said Mr Hatton. "Mr Walter Gerard without his pedigree
is a mere flash in the pan; and I defy him to prove anything without the
deed of '77."

"Well, he has not got that," said Lord de Mowbray.

"Safe, of course?" said Mr Hatton.

"Certain. I almost wish I had burnt it as well as the whole box-full."

"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. I would recommend your lordship to instruct your lawyers to
appear to this writ as a matter of course. But enter into no details,
no unnecessary confidence with them. They are needless. Treat the matter
lightly, especially to them. You will hear no more of it."

"You feel confidence?"

"Perfect. Walter Gerard has no documents of any kind.