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Dick, with a curious outward calm, contrasting with the fury of his mock encounter, put down the sword and went to the end of the table, where the case of pistols lay. "At any rate, I must show you," said he, "the famous duelling pistols." "They were the very pistols in the duel between his great-grandfather and Lord Estcombe," said Viviette.
Now, it came to his knowledge that Lord Estcombe had been using blackguard means to win away the girl's affections. And one day they were here" he moved a pace or two to one side "just as Austin and I are now. And the girl over there " Viviette, with a gay laugh, took up her position on the spot to which he pointed. "Just in this identical place. I know the story it's lovely!"
It is in Wiltshire, not far from here. She looked at her fan, and idly flapped it open, and again closed it in the air. 'Is it a fine place? she said carelessly. 'I suppose so, he answered, wincing. 'With trees, and gardens, and woods? 'Yes. 'And water? 'Yes. There is a river. 'You used to fish in it as a boy? 'Yes. 'Estcombe! it is a pretty name. And shall you lose it?
It was a copy of the attestation of birth 'of Julia, daughter of Anthony Soane, of Estcombe, England, and Julie his wife'; the date, August, 1747; the place, Dunquerque. The Attorney drew a long quivering breath, and put the papers up again, the packet in the place from which he had taken it, the extract from the Bristol register in another pocket.
He had a curious, dull, befogged sensation of being compelled to do things independently of volition. Presently he spoke. "It happened in this very room, a hundred years ago. Lord Estcombe and my great-grandfather were friends intimate friends from boyhood. Wild Dick Ware was madly in love with a girl who had more or less become engaged to him.
It is not likely, and I wish that little pettifogger had not put it into my head; but if a cousin were to appear now, or before the time is up, I should be in Queer Street. Estcombe is dipped: and of the money I raised, there is no more at the agent's than I have lost in a night at Quinze! D n White's and that is all about it.
'To my land-steward two hundred guineas, he said; 'to my house-steward one hundred guineas, to the housekeeper at Estcombe an annuity of twenty guineas. Ten guineas and a suit of mourning to each of my upper servants not already mentioned, and the rest of my personalty 'After payment of debts and funeral and testamentary expenses, the lawyer murmured, writing busily.
He went to move it; in the act he read the heading: 'This is the last will and testament of me Sir Anthony Cornelius Soane, baronet, of Estcombe Hall, in the county of Wilts. 'Tut-tut! said the tutor. 'That is not Soane's will, that is his grandfather's. And between idleness and curiosity, not unmingled with surprise, he read the will to the end.
"They've not been used from that day he killed Lord Estcombe, by the by till this. The case is just as it was left. I was going to tell you the story yesterday." "I remember," said Katherine, by way of civility. "But Mrs. Ware stopped you." She was a mild-natured woman, and the realistic conjuring up of gore-dripping tassels and bloody shirts upset her, and she desired to get away.
'D'ye know that this is Sir George Soane of Estcombe? Answer him, you swine, or you'll be in the cage in a one, two! 'You let me be, the man whined, straggling to release himself. 'It's no business of yours, Let me be, master! Sir George raised his whip in his wrath, but lowered it again with a groan. 'Can no one make him speak? he said, looking round.
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