Litchfield enquirer., 1872-01-18

LeadenhalI Street No such name was, however, known there; and an exaIniIa4 tion. to which he was advised. of the s'Commercia- Directory 2 failed to diseov- CT the whereabouts of the pretended L1n- don merchant Heartsick and spir:. ried, Captain Dalston returned home only. to die. A violent cold, caught by impru- dcntly riding in such bitter weather as it then was, on the outside of the coach, az grayated by distress of mind, brought his already enfeebled frame to the grave 1 ill less than two months after his arrival in Cumberland. He left his daughters
 utterly unprovided for, except by the le- gal claim which the eldest possessed on
 man who, he feared, would turn ont to be a worthless impostor. The penalty he paid for consenting to so imprudent marriage was indeed heavy and bitter one. Months passed away, and still no tidings of Violet's husband reached the sisters sad and solitary home. At length, stimulated by approximations of approach ing destitutiOn-whose foot was already on the threshold-and degirous of gratify,, ing whim of Emily's, Violet consented Castle (the seat, her sister had ascertained, oA OA1O SCAOOAdbOo otSOA 344tS OcAOAAOe, oAo the porter called him) on their way to London, where they had relatives who, though not rich, might be able to assist them in obtaining some decent means of maintenance. They alighted at the Comp ton Arms" and the first object which met the astonished gaze of the sisters as they entered the principal sitting-room of the inn; was full-length portrait of Violet's husband, i'll the exact sporting dress des- | cribed to them by their father. An ivory tablet attached to the lower part of the frame informed the gazer that the picture 1 was a copy of the celebrated portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence, of Sir Harry Compton, Baronet. They were confound cd, overwhelmed, bewildered. Sir Har- ", they found, had been killed about eight months previouslyin in asteeple-chase; and the castle and estates had passed, in default of direct issue, to a distant rela- tive, Lord Emsdale. Their story was soon brnited about; and, in the opinion of many persons, was confirmed beyond reasonable question by the extraordinary likeness they saw or fancied between Vio- let's son and the deceasd baronet Amongst others, Sir Jasper Thornley was a firm be- liever in the identity of Henry Grainger and Sir Harry Compton; but unfortunate ly, beyond the assertion of the sisters that the portrait of Sir Harry was young Grainger's portrait, the real or imaginary likeness of the child to his reputed father, and some score of letters addressed to Violet by her husband, which Sir Jasper persisted were in Sir HarTy's handwriting, though few others did (the hand; I saw at a glance, was disguised one), not one tittle of evidence had he been able to pro- cure for love or money. As a last re- source, he had consigned the case to me, and the vulpine sagacity of London at torney.
 suppose my countenance must be what Is called a speaking" one, for l made no upon which and ''London attorney" were to ground measures for wrestling a magnificent estate from the clutch of a powerful nobleman, and by 'snext assizes" too-when the lady's beautiful eyes filled with tears, and turning to her child, she murmured in that gentle, agitating voice of hers, My poor boy!'' The words l was about to utter died on my tongue. and remained silent for several minutes. After all, thought l, this lady is evidently sincere in her expressed conviction that Sir Harry Compton. was her husband. If her surmise be correct, evidence of" the truth may perhaps be obtained by keen search for 1t; and since Sir Jasper guaran- tees the expenses-- rang the bell. ''Step over to Cursitor Street." said I to the clerk as soon as he entered; s'and if Mir. Ferret is within, ask him to step over immediately" Ferret was just the man
 for such commission. Indefatigable, resolute, sharp-witted, and of ceasless, remorseless activity, a secret or a fact had need be very profoundly hidden for him not to reach and fish 1t up. l have heard solemn doubts expressed by attorneys op- posed to him as to whether he ever really and truly slept at all-that is, a genuine Christian sleep, as distinguished from q merely canine one, with one eye always half open. MT. Ferret had been for ma ny years Mr.. .Simpkins' managing clerk; but ambition, and the increasing require ments of considerable number of young Ferrets, determined him on commencing business on his own account; and about six months previous to the period of which am now writing, brass door plate in Cursitor Street, Chancery Lane, informed the public that Samuel Ferret, Esq, Attorney-at-Law, might be consult ed within.
 MT. Samuel Ferret was fortunately at homo; and after very brief interval, made his appearance, entering with q short professional bow to me; and a very pro found one to the lady, in whom his quick gray eye seemed intuitively to espy ci- ent. AS soon as he was seated, handed him Sir Jasper's letter. He pursued it carefully three times, examined the seal attentively, and handed 1t back with-"An excellent letter as far as it goes, and very ,,,11oI to fhn 11ofnf Spfor,1 pose, that should undertake this little affair."" .,- -.r ..-=-.-fs
 "Yes, if, after hearing the lady's case, you feel disposed to venture upon il" Mir. Samuel Ferret's notebook was out
 in an instant; and the lady, uninterrupted by syllable from him, re-told her story. EsGood. very good, as far as it goes, P remarked undismayed Samuel Ferret when she concluded; only it can scarcely be
 said to go very far. Moral presumption,
 which, in our courts unfortunately, isn't worth a groat. Never mind. Aagn0 est
 veritas, and so on. When, madam, did l you say Sir Harry-Mr. Grainger-first began to urge emigrationw
 Between two and three years ago"
 ''Have the goodness, if you please, to hand me the baronetage." did SO. Good" resumed Ferret, after turning
 over the leaves for few seconds, ''very
 good, as far as it goes. It is now just two years and eight months since Sir Harry
 succeeded his uncle in the title and estates. l You would no doubt soon have heard,
 madam, that your husband was dead.
 Truly the heart of man is deceitful above
 all things, and desperately wicked; and
 yet such conduct towards such a lady"--
 Ferret intended no mere compliment; he
 was only giving utterance to the thoughts
 passing through his brain; but his clients
 mounting color warned him to change the
 topic, which he very adroitly did. ssYou
 intend, of course" said he, addressing
 me, ''to proceed at law? No rumble -tum-
 ble in the spiritual courts?' .saeaisl Certainly, if sufficient evidence to jus I tify such course can be obtained"
 Exactly: Doe, demise of Compton, Vs.
 Emsdale; action in ejectment, judgment of custer Our friend Doe, madam-s