Part 21 (1/2)
”I owe no thanks to those who sent for my relations! Sir Philip Harclay, you have used ungenerously the advantage you have gained over me! you spared my life, only to take away my reputation. You have exposed me to strangers, and, what is worse, to my dearest friends; when I lay in a state of danger, you obliged me to say any thing, and now you take advantage of it, to ruin me in my friends' affection. But, if I recover, you may repent it!”
Sir Philip then came forward.
”My Lords, I shall take no notice of what this unhappy man has just now said; I shall appeal to you, as to the honourable witnesses of all that has pa.s.sed; you see it was no more than necessary. I appeal to you for the motives of my treatment of him, before, at, and after our meeting.
I did not take his life, as I might have done; I wished him to repent of his sins, and to make rest.i.tution of what he unjustly possesses. I was called out to do an act of justice; I had taken the heir of Lovel under my protection, my chief view was to see justice done to him;--what regarded this man was but a secondary motive. This was my end, and I will never, never lose sight of it.”
Lord Lovel seemed almost choaked with pa.s.sion, to see every one giving some mark of approbation and respect to Sir Philip. He called out--
”I demand to know who is this pretended heir, whom he brings out to claim my t.i.tle and fortune?”
”My n.o.ble auditors,” said Sir Philip, ”I shall appeal to your judgment, in regard to the proofs of my ward's birth and family; every circ.u.mstance shall be laid before you, and you shall decide upon them.
”Here is a young man, supposed the son of a peasant, who, by a train of circ.u.mstances that could not have happened by human contrivance, discovers not only who were his real parents, but that they came to untimely deaths. He even discovers the different places where their bones are buried, both out of consecrated ground, and appeals to their ashes for the truth of his pretensions. He has also living proofs to offer, that will convince the most incredulous. I have deferred entering into particulars, till the arrival of Baron Fitz-Owen. I know his n.o.ble heart and honourable character, from one that has long been an eye-witness of his goodness; such is the opinion I have of his justice, that I will accept him as one of the judges in his brother's cause.
I and my ward will bring our proofs before him, and the company here present; in the course of them, it will appear that he is the best qualified of any to judge of them, because he can ascertain many of the facts we shall have occasion to mention. I will rest our cause upon their decision.”
Lord Graham applauded Sir Philip's appeal, affirming his own impartiality, and calling upon Lord Clifford and his son, and also his own nephews who were present. Lord Clifford said--
”Sir Philip offers fairly, and like himself; there can be no place nor persons more impartial than the present, and I presume the Lord Lovel can have no objection.”
”No objection!” answered he; ”what, to be tried like a criminal, to have judges appointed over me, to decide upon my right to my own estate and t.i.tle? I will not submit to such a jurisdiction!”
”Then,” said Sir Philip, ”you had rather be tried by the laws of the land, and have them p.r.o.nounce sentence upon you? Take your choice, sir; if you refuse the one, you shall be certain of the other.”
Lord Clifford then said--”You will allow Lord Lovel to consider of the proposal; he will consult his friends, and be determined by their advice.”
Lord Fitz-Owen said--”I am very much surprised at what I have heard. I should be glad to know all that Sir Philip Harclay has to say for his ward, that I may judge what my brother has to hope or fear; I will then give my best advice, or offer my mediation, as he may stand in need of them.”
”You say well,” replied Lord Graham, ”and pray let us come directly to the point; Sir Philip, you will introduce your ward to this company, and enter upon your proofs.”
Sir Philip bowed to the company; he went out and brought in Edmund, encouraging him by the way; he presented him to Baron Fitz-Owen, who looked very serious.
”Edmund Twyford,” said he, ”are you the heir of the house of Lovel?”
”I am, my Lord,” said Edmund, bowing to the ground; ”the proofs will appear; but I am, at the same time, the most humble and grateful of all your servants, and the servant of your virtues.”
Sir Robert rose up, and was going to leave the room.
”Son Robert, stay,” said the Baron; ”if there is any fraud, you will be pleased to detect it, and, if all that is affirmed be true, you will not shut your eyes against the light; you are concerned in this business; hear it in silence, and let reason be arbiter in your cause.”
He bowed to his father, bit his lip, and retired to the window. William nodded to Edmund, and was silent. All the company had their eyes fixed on the young man, who stood in the midst, casting down his eyes with modest respect to the audience; while Sir Philip related all the material circ.u.mstances of his life, the wonderful gradation by which he came to the knowledge of his birth, the adventures of the haunted apartment, the discovery of the fatal closet, and the presumptive proofs that Lord Lovel was buried there. At this part of his narration, Lord Fitz-Owen interrupted him.
”Where is this closet you talk of? for I and my sons went over the apartment since Edmund's departure, and found no such place as you describe.”
”My Lord,” said Edmund, ”I can account for it: the door is covered with tapestry, the same as the room, and you might easily overlook it; but I have a witness here,” said he, and putting his hand into his bosom, he drew out the key. ”If this is not the key of that closet, let me be deemed an impostor, and all I say a falsehood; I will risk my pretensions upon this proof.”
”And for what purpose did you take it away?” said the Baron.
”To prevent any person from going into it,” replied Edmund; ”I have vowed to keep it till I shall open that closet before witnesses appointed for that purpose.”