Yet were there
preliminaries of no mean importance to be adjusted, as all men who have
wives may well conceive. The lady of Lathom must first be consulted; but
probabilities were strongly against the supposition that she would
tamely submit to this infringement on the rights of her child by the
interposition of a bastard. Nay, she had beforetime hinted that some
individual of the name, of moderate wealth and good breeding, might in
time be found for a suitable alliance. Still, the success of his scheme
was an object that lay deeply at his heart, and he grew more and more
anxious and perplexed. One evening, as he wandered out disconsolately in
the company of an old and trusty servant, to whom he had imparted the
secret, they came to a desert place in the park, nigh to where a pair of
eagles had from time immemorial built their nests. A project struck him
which promised fair to realise his wishes. After a multitude of schemes
subservient to the main purpose had been thrown out and abandoned, the
whole plot was finally unfolded in the following manner:--
A message was conveyed to the mother overnight, that betimes on the
following morning the babe, richly clad, should be held in readiness,
and a trusty servant would forthwith convey him to the hall.
Pages:
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197