mes should any
Lords de Genneville be similarly afflicted with twin sons, who had equal
rights to be considered the eldest born, the same rule should apply as
to the succession.

"Subsequently a Lord de Genneville was created Earl of Brockelsby by one
of the Stuart kings, but for four hundred years after its enactment the
extraordinary deed of succession remained a mere tradition, the
Countesses of Brockelsby having, seemingly, no predilection for twins.
But in 1878 the mistress of Brockelsby Castle presented her lord with
twin-born sons.

"Fortunately, in modern times, science is more wide-awake, and
attendants more careful. The twin brothers did not get mixed up, and one
of them was styled Viscount Tirlemont, and was heir to the earldom,
whilst the other, born two hours later, was that fascinating, dashing
young Guardsman, well known at Hurlingham, Goodwood, London, and in his
own county--the Hon. Robert Ingram de Genneville.

"It certainly was an evil day for this brilliant young scion of the
ancient race when he lent an ear to Timothy Beddingfield. This man, and
his family before him, had been solicitors to the Earls of Brockelsby
for many generations, but Timothy, owing to certain 'irregularities,'
had forfeited the confidence of his client, the late earl.

"He was still in practice in Birmingham, however, and, of course, knew
the ancient family tradition anent the twin succession. Whether he was
prompted by revenge or merely self-advertisement no one knows.

"Certain it is that he did advise the Hon. Robert de Genneville--who
apparently had more debts than he conveniently could pay, and more
extravagant tastes than he could gratify on a younger son's portion--to
lay a claim, on his father's death, to the joint title and a moiety of
the revenues of the ancient barony of Genneville, that claim being based
upon the validity of the fifteenth-century document.

"You may gather how extensive were the pretensions of the Hon. Robert
from the fact that the greater part of Edgbaston is now built upon land
belonging to the old barony. Anyway, it was the last straw in an ocean
of debt and difficulties, and I have no doubt that Beddingfield had not
much trouble in persuading the Hon. Robert to commence litigation at
once.

"The young Earl of Brockelsby's attitude, however, remained one of
absolute quietude in his nine points of the law. He was in possession
both of the title and of the document. It was for the other si