The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 372: what you’re looking at

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

338 THE COURT OF LONDON cate with him. I presume a letter will reach him at Malden Farm? ” “He was there when I heard of him last,’ responded Earl Montgomery. ‘ You had better write to him yourself; it will be more regular.” ‘“‘ T shall assuredly do so,” said the attorney, taking another pinch of snuff. ‘‘ And now, before I leave your lordship,” he continued, a thought striking him, ‘‘ I should wish to ask a certain question respecting a noble acquaintance of yours — and yet I scarcely know how to take such a liberty — ”’ ! “Do not hesitate, Mr. Rigden,”’ exclaimed Lord Mont- gomery. ‘If I can serve you in any manner, I shall be delighted. To whom of my noble acquaintances do you allude? ”’ : “To Lord Florimel,’’ answered the attorney. ‘‘ But lest the question which I am desirous to ask your lordship should appear impertinent, I will explain in a few words my mo- tives in putting it. The fact is, that this very morning a noble client of mine introduced to me a young man who has suddenly and strangely discovered certain grounds and reasons for supposing that he has claims of an extraordinary nature which would materially affect the fortune and the social position of Lord Florimel; and I must frankly confess that as far as I was enabled to look into the matter at the moment it was presented to me, the young man’s claims appear to be well worth a lawsuit. At the same time, I have no doubt that he would listen to any reasonable terms for an amicable settlement without the intervention of the tribunals; and to this course I should recommend him to accede. The question, therefore, that I was desirous to ask your lordship, is whether Lord Florimel is a man likely to treat the affair in a friendly way if it be submitted to him in the same spirit, or whether he is one of those obstinate individuals, who, believing that possession is worth nine points of the law, will plunge headlong into Chancery with a neck or nothing determination.”’ “TI should say that Lord Florimel will listen to reason,’’ answered Montgomery. ‘“‘ But I am sorry to hear that he is menaced in so serious a manner, and I am pretty sure that he suspects nothing of the kind; for I was with him this morning for a couple of hours, and we were conversing COMicooolks (CO)