Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 346: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

eS ED a eV ee and litigation was carried on in reference to the Carshalton estates. Well, then the Ravenscliffes brought counter-suits against the Tremaines and claimed the Tremaine estates: and thus there was the most singular but at the same time one of the most costly legal entanglements that ever the world’ beheld. It was no doubt a fine game for the lawyers, but a ruinous one for the litigants.” “ And what became of the Wakefields,” I asked, ‘in the midst of all these legal conflicts and em- | {of the younger branches of our family,” rejoined broilments P” “Oh, they were routed in every sense — they were extirpated—they died out of existence—and I believe the family has long been extinct. Ah! by the bye, if I recollect right, I have heard that some twenty or five-and-twenty years ago there was @ man who put himself forward as 2a lineal descendant of the great Wakefields of Warwick- shire, as the family was really entitled to be called a century or two ago: but the fellow was a mere impostor i “Do you recollect any. of the circumstances of his claim, my lord ?” I inquired, with an air as if I was merely sustaining a conversation and had no ulterior object in view. “IT have beard my father speak of the subject,” replied Viscount Ravenscliffe; “but I really have taken little note of what he has said—for no one has of late years ventured to breathe even so much as a hint to the effect that the Carshalton peerage and estates are not vested in the right family. I think however that I have heard of this Gerald Wakefield Yes, to be sure! I recollect now! his name was Gerald !—and I believe that he was some needy adventurer who thought probably to extort money from my father. But he suddenly disappeared, and was heard of no more.” “And thus,’ I observed, “the three families were almost immemorially at legal warfare P” “Oh, yes,” answered the Viscount: “and a mint of money must have been expended in their insane quarrels. You must understand—tbat is to say, if you really take any interest in the sub- ject, Miss Percy i “Oh! being intimate with the Tremaines,” I interjected, “and having the honour of being acquainted with your family, my lord, I am of course interested in the subject—as a matter of passing conversation.” “ Well, then, I will give you a few more parti- culars,” resumed the Viscount,—“ though I tell you candidly I am by no means well versed in the history of these quarrellings and squabblings, which always seem to me to constitute a web most difficult to unravel. But there was a period—some two centuries ago perhaps—when the titles of Carshalton and Ravenscliffe were separated, and a Tremaine bore the title of Carshalton. Then, too, there was a baronetcy in the Tremaine family, which somehow or another became extinct, I can- not tell you how ;—and the Wakefields were baro- nets also a century and a half ago——” “Indeed!” I ejaculated, more and more sur- prised at everything I heard in reference to the Wakefields. ‘Then these titles have been lost ?” “The Baronetcy of Wakefield is extinct—yes, and likewise that which was in the Tremaine family,” answered the Viscount: “but as for the two titles of nobility, they have for a long time past been entirely in my own family. Thus my oe ee OE CE -_————- Sr ee rr ee ee a 303 ——__- —_-—- father is the Earl of Carshalton; and the second title is that of Viscount Ravenscliffe—as I need scarcely inform you, Miss Percy,” added the noble- man with a smile, | “Tt is singular,” I observed, “that I never once heard your deceased brother Lord Frederick speak of these subjects—no not even the one of the latest date—such, for instance, as the claims of Gerald Wakefield ¢ “They are not within the personal recollection the Viscount. “ Indeed my father himself gets into a complete fog if attempting to explain how in his own earlier years he had to litigate with Squire Tremaine ; and if he only goes farther back to un- ravel the legal feuds, claims, pretensions, counter- claims, and counter-pretensions, of the Tremaines, the Wakefields, and the Ravenscliffes, he finds himself so utterly bewildered that he always gives it up as a bad job. My brother never troubled himself on the point; and I myself, as I have already told you, know very little about it.” I now made a movement as if about to take leave of the Viscount and pass on, when he said to me in a-serious tone and with a significant look, “I am not unmindful, Miss Percy, of the secrecy which you have so generously maintained relative to the deplorable circumstances which were so closely connected with my unfortunate brother. I should do myself the honour of calling on you at Tremaine Hall; but for years the two families have been at variance.” “And you, therefore, my lord, have perhaps never set foot in Tremaine Hall?” I said. “It is a handsome and interesting country-seat es “Oh, yes! I have been in it, Miss Percy,” in- terjected the Viscount. “I had the curiosity some time ago to visit the mansion: but it was when the Tremaines were abroad—and therefore pray do not mention the circumstance in their hear ing.” “No, I certainly would not do so,” I answered : and takirz leave of the Viscount, I returned to the hotel. Beda was already there,—she having specdily acquitted herself of the task which I had assigned her while I went and sought out Mrs. Sturton at her miserable abode. I told Beda all that had just taken place with Viscount Ravenscliffe: she listened with the deepest interest and attention —and when I had finished speaking, she asked, * And what do you think of this, dear Miss ?” “T have no doubt,” I replied, “that the Gerald Wakefield to whom Viscount Ravenscliffe just now alluded, will prove to be the one of whom Dame Betty spoke—most probably the elder brother of Mr. Henry Wakefield’s father. But we shall see, Beda! Yor myself I am determined to subdue the spirit of conjecture as much as possible, and not abandon myself to dreams or ideas on Mr. Henry’s behalf, which may perhaps be disappointed. Be- sides, I will tell you candidly that though I shall of course push this investigation to the very ut- most, I do not see how it can possibly result in any advantage to Mr. Henry.” ECORNICLOOOKS