Part 24 (1/2)
”By the way, Sir Reginald,” said the vice-admiral, with his hand on the lock of the door, arresting his own movement to put the question; ”I see, by your manner of expressing yourself, that the law has not been entirely overlooked in your education. Do you happen to know what 'half-blood' means? it is either a medical or a legal term, and I understand few but nautical.”
”You could not apply to any man in England, Sir Gervaise, better qualified to tell you,” answered the Hertfords.h.i.+re baronet, smiling expressively. ”I am a barrister of the Middle Temple, having been educated as a younger son, and having since succeeded an elder brother, at the age of twenty-seven; I stand in the unfortunate relation of the 'half-blood' myself, to this very estate, on which we are now conversing.”
Sir Reginald then proceeded to explain the law to the other, as we have already pointed it out to the reader; performing the duty succinctly, but quite clearly.
”Bless me!--bless me! Sir Reginald,” exclaimed the direct-minded and _just_-minded sailor--”here must be some mistake! A fortieth cousin, or the king, take this estate before yourself, though you are directly descended from all the old Wychecombes of the times of the Plantagenets!”
”Such is the common law, Sir Gervaise. Were I Sir Wycherly's half-brother, or a son by a second wife of our common father, I could not take from _him_, although that common father had earned the estate by his own hands, or services.”
”This is d.a.m.nable, sir--d.a.m.nable--and you'll pardon me, but I can hardly believe we have such a monstrous principle in the good, honest, well-meaning laws, of good, honest, well-meaning old England!”
Sir Reginald was one of the few lawyers of his time, who did not recognize the virtue of this particular provision of the common law; a circ.u.mstance that probably arose from his having so _small_ an interest now in the mysteries of the profession, and so _large_ an interest in the family estate of Wychecombe, destroyed by its _dictum_. He was, consequently, less surprised, and not at all hurt, at the evident manner in which the sailor repudiated his statement, as doing violence equally to reason, justice, and probability.
”Good, honest, well-meaning old England tolerates many grievous things, notwithstanding, Sir Gervaise,” he answered; ”among others, it tolerates the law of the half-blood. Much depends on the manner in which men view these things; that which seems gold to one, resembling silver in the eyes of another. Now, I dare say,”--this was said as a feeler, and with a smile that might pa.s.s for ironical or confiding, as the listener pleased to take it--”Now, I dare say, the clans would tell us that England tolerates an usurper, while her lawful prince was in banishment; though _you_ and _I_ might not feel disposed to allow it.”
Sir Gervaise started, and cast a quick, suspicious glance at the speaker; but there the latter stood, with as open and guileless an expression on his handsome features, as was ever seen in the countenance of confiding sixteen.
”Your supposit.i.tious case is no parallel,” returned the vice-admiral, losing every shade of suspicion, at this appearance of careless frankness; ”since men often follow their feelings in their allegiance, while the law is supposed to be governed by reason and justice. But, now we are on the subject, will you tell me. Sir Reginald, if you also know what a _nullus_ is?”
”I have no farther knowledge of the subject, Sir Gervaise,” returned the other, smiling, this time, quite naturally; ”than is to be found in the Latin dictionaries and grammars.”
”Ay--you mean _nullus, nulla, nullum_. Even we sailors know _that_; as we all go to school before we go to sea. But, Sir Wycherly, in efforts to make himself understood, called you a 'half-blood.'”
”And quite correctly--I admit such to be the fact; and that I have no more _legal_ claim, whatever on this estate, than you have yourself. My _moral_ right, however, may be somewhat better.”
”It is much to your credit, that you so frankly admit it, Sir Reginald; for, hang me, if I think even the judges would dream of raising such an objection to your succeeding, unless reminded of it.”
”Therein you do them injustice, Sir Gervaise; as it is their duty to administer the laws, let them be what they may.”
”Perhaps you are right, sir. But the reason for my asking what a _nullus_ is, was the circ.u.mstance that Sir Wycherly, in the course of his efforts to speak, repeatedly called his nephew and heir, Mr. Thomas Wychecombe, by that epithet.”
”Did he, indeed?--Was the epithet, as you well term it, _filius nullius_?”
”I rather think it was _nullus_--though I do believe the word _filius_ was muttered, once or twice, also.”
”Yes, sir, this has been the case; and I am not sorry Sir Wycherly is aware of the fact, as I hear that the young man affects to consider himself in a different point of view. A _filius nullius_ is the legal term for a b.a.s.t.a.r.d--the 'son of n.o.body,' as you will at once understand.
I am fully aware that such is the unfortunate predicament of Mr. Thomas Wychecombe, whose father, I possess complete evidence to show, was never married to his mother.”
”And yet, Sir Reginald, the impudent rascal carries in his pocket even, a certificate, signed by some parish priest in London, to prove the contrary.”
The civil baronet seemed surprised at this a.s.sertion of his military brother; but Sir Gervaise explaining what had pa.s.sed between himself and the young man, he could no longer entertain any doubt of the fact.
”Since you have seen the doc.u.ment,” resumed Sir Reginald, ”it must, indeed, be so; and this misguided boy is prepared to take any desperate step in order to obtain the t.i.tle and the estate. All that he has said about a will must be fabulous, as no man in his senses would risk his neck to obtain so hollow a distinction as a baronetcy--we are equally members of the cla.s.s, and may speak frankly, Sir Gervaise--and the will would secure the estate, if there were one. I cannot think, therefore, that there is a will at all.”
”If this will were not altogether to the fellow's liking, would not the marriage, beside the hollow honour of which you have spoken, put the whole of the landed property in his possession, under the entail?”
”It would, indeed; and I thank you for the suggestion. If, however, Sir Wycherly is desirous, _now_, of making a _new_ will, and has strength and mind sufficient to execute his purpose, the _old_ one need give us no concern. This is a most delicate affair for one in my situation to engage in, sir; and I greatly rejoice that I find such honourable and distinguished witnesses, in the house, to clear my reputation, should any thing occur to require such exculpation. On the one side, Sir Gervaise, there is the danger of an ancient estate's falling into the hands of the crown, and this, too, while one of no _stain_ of blood, derived from the same honourable ancestors as the last possessor, is in existence; or, on the other, of its becoming the prey of one of base blood, and of but very doubtful character. The circ.u.mstance that Sir Wycherly desired my presence, is a great deal; and I trust to you, and to those with you, to vindicate the fairness of my course. If it's your pleasure, sir, we will now go to the sick chamber.”
”With all my heart. I think, however, Sir Reginald,” said the vice-admiral, as he approached the door; ”that even in the event of an escheat, you would find these Brunswick princes sufficiently liberal to restore the property. I could not answer for those wandering Scotchmen; who have so many breechless n.o.bles to enrich; but, I think, with the Hanoverians, you would be safe.”
”The last have certainly one recommendation the most,” returned the other, smiling courteously, but in a way so equivocal that even Sir Gervaise was momentarily struck by it; ”they have fed so well, now, at the crib, that they may not have the same voracity, as those who have been long fasting. It would be, however, more pleasant to take these lands from a Wychecombe--a Wychecombe to a Wychecombe--than to receive them anew from even the Plantagenet who made the first grant.”