The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 337: what you’re looking at

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

THE TWO NOBLEMEN 303 made such havoc amongst its members, that every claim seemed to be abandoned in that quarter; and the only representative of that family who was at last left was a female infant of whom the Earl of Desborough took charge. This child grew up — ”’ | ‘‘ Ah! your cousin, Fernanda Aylmer? ”’ exclaimed Lord Florimel. ‘“‘ Or rather Lady Holderness,” said Montgomery. “ Well, within the last few months she has asserted her right to the portion of the Warwickshire estates previously claimed by her family; and thus the Aylmers and Montgomeries are once more battling with the Bellendens. Do you now comprehend the position of this very intricate affair? ”’ ‘“‘ Perfectly, my dear friend,’’ answered Lord Florimel. ‘You never explained it to me so lucidly and minutely before. But if you, your brother Raymond, and Lady Holderness all three succeed in these suits, the Marchioness of Bellenden will be completely stripped of all her posses- sions? ”’ ‘“‘ Except the income which she derives from a certain sum in the funds, and which produces her about two thousand a year,’ said Lord Montgomery. ‘“‘ And do you really expect that you will all three succeed in the lawsuits? ”’ asked Florimel. “‘ T confess that I am very sanguine,”’ returned Lord Mont- gomery. ‘“‘ My brother Raymond’s rights to the Warwick- shire estates are all but proven; and Fernanda will not experience much difficulty in making good the validity of her claims. But my case, which refers, you must remember, to the priory property, is a little more complex. However, the Lord Chancellor must decide upon the matter soon; and I shall be truly glad when all suspense is over.”’ “IT can well believe you, my dear Eugene,” said Lord Florimel. ‘‘ For my part, I would not have a lawsuit for the world.” ‘‘ And yet there are scarcely any title-deeds which do not contain some flaw or leave some opening for quibble and dispute,’’ observed Montgomery, ‘‘ Indeed, some persons hold and enjoy large estates without possessing any title- deeds at all; for through the habit of entrusting such docu- ments to one’s solicitor, they are frequently lost or destroyed by accident.” (C(O) MG DOC So