"Yes, sir; will you do me the favour to take a chair?"
I seated myself, and drew out my memorandum book. "My object, Mr De
Benyon, in troubling you, is to ascertain a few particulars relative to
your family, which we cannot so easily find out in England. There is a
_property_ which it is supposed may be claimed by one of the De Benyons,
but which we cannot ascertain until we have a little search into the
genealogical tree."
"Is the property large?" inquired Mr De Benyon.
"Not very large," replied I; "but still a very handsome property, I am
told." The reader may surmise that the property referred to was my own
pretty self. "May I ask you a few particulars relative to the present
earl and his brothers?"
"Most certainly, sir," replied Mr De Benyon; "any information I can
give you will be at your service. The earl has four brothers. The
eldest Maurice."
"Is he married?"
"Yes, and has two children. The next is William."
"Is he married?"
"No; nor has he ever been. He is a general in the army. The third is
myself, Henry."
"You are married, I believe, sir?"
"Yes, with a large family."
"May I request you will proceed, sir?"
"Arthur is the fourth brother. He is lately married, and has two
children."
"Sir, I feel much obliged to you; it is a curious and intricate affair.
As I am here, I may as well ask one question, although not of great
consequence. The earl is married, I perceive, by the peerage, but I do
not find that he has any children."
"On the contrary, he has two--and prospects of more. May I now request
the particulars connected with this property?"
"The exact particulars, sir, I cannot well tell you, as I am not
acquainted with them myself; but the property in question, I rather
think, depends upon a _name_. May I venture to ask the names of all
your children?"
Mr De Benyon gave me a list _seriatim_, which I put down with great
gravity.
"Of course, there is no doubt of your second brother not being married.
I believe we ought to have a certificate. Do you know his address?"
"He has been in the East Indies for many years. He returned home on
furlough, and has now just sailed again for Calcutta."
"That is unfortunate; we must forward a letter through the India Board.
May I also be favoured with your address, as in all probability it may
be advisable?"
Mr De Benyon gave me his address. I rose, promised to give him all the
particulars as soon as they were known to me, bowed, and made my exit.
To one who was in his sober senses, there certainly was not any
important information gained; but to me, it was evident that the Mr De
Benyon who was a general in the army was to be interrogated, and I had
almost made up my mind to set off for Calcutta.