I believe," concluded
Mr. Pawle, with emphasis, "that my conclusions will be found to be
correct ones, based on indisputable fact."
Lord Ellingham looked from one solicitor to the other.
"Then," he said, with something of a smile, "if Wickham was really my
uncle, Lord Marketstoke, and this young lady you tell me of is his
daughter--what, definitely, is my position?"
Mr. Pawle looked at Mr. Carless, and Mr. Carless shook his head.
"If Mr. Pawle's theory is correct," he said, "and mind you, Pawle, it
will take a lot of proving. If Mr. Pawle's theory is correct, the
position, my lord, is this. The young lady we hear of is Countess of
Ellingham in her own right! She would not be the first woman to succeed
to the title: there was a Countess of Ellingham in the time of George the
Third. She would, of course, have to prove her claim before the House of
Lords--if made good, she succeeds to titles and estates. That's the plain
English of it--and upon my honour," concluded Mr. Carless, "it's one of
the most extraordinary things I ever heard of. This other affair is
nothing to it!"
Lord Ellingham again inspected the legal countenances.
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