Mr. Pitwinnoch was instructed to lay out the money at five per cent.
interest to pay Mrs. Charles the annuity; and one of his clerks
mentioned the circumstance to a companion in Mr. Whitteret’s office.
This led to an application from him for the loan, on account of
a country gentleman in the neighbourhood, who, having obtained a
considerable increase of his rental, was intending to enlarge his
mansion, and extend his style of living,--a very common thing at that
period, the effects of which are beginning to show themselves,--but,
as the Leddy said on another occasion, that’s none of our concern at
present.
The security offered being unexceptionable, an arrangement was speedily
concluded, and an heritable bond for the amount prepared. As the party
borrowing the money lived at some distance from the town, Mr. Whitteret
sent one of his young men to get it signed, and to deliver it to the
Leddy. It happened that the youth employed in this business was a
little acquainted with the Leddy, and knowing her whimsical humour,
when he carried it home he stopped, and fell into conversation with her
about Walkinshaw, whom he knew.
‘I maun gar his mother write to him,’ said the Leddy, ‘to tell him
what a victory I hae gotten;--for ye maun ken, Willy Keckle, that
I hae overcome principalities and powers in this controversy.--Wha
ever heard o’ thousands o’ pounds gotten for sax weeks’ bed, board,
and washing, like mine? But it was a rightous judgement on the Nabal
Milrookit,--whom I’ll never speak to again in this world, and no in the
next either, I doot, unless he mends his manners. He made an absolute
refuse to gie a continuality o’ Jamie’s mother’s ’nuity, which was
the because o’ my going to law with him for a thousand pounds, value
received in bed, board, and washing, for six weeks.--And the case,
Willy,--you that’s breeding for a limb o’ the law,--ye should ken, was
sic an absolute fact, that he was obligated by a judicature to pay me
down the money.’
Willy Keckle was so amused with her account of the speedy justice which
she had obtained, as she said, by instructing Mr. Pitwinnoch herself of
the ‘nice point,’ and ‘the strong ground,’ that he could not refrain
from relating the conversation to his master.
Mr. Whitteret was diverted with the story; but it seemed so strange and
unaccountable, that the amount of the demand, and the readiness with
which it was paid, dwelt on his mind as extraordinary circumstances;
and he having occasion next day to go into Edinburgh, where Mr. Frazer
had returned from Glengael, to attend his professional duties, he
happened to be invited to dine with a party where that gentleman was,
and the company consisting chiefly of lawyers,--as dinner parties
unfortunately are in the modern Athens,--he amused them with the story
of the Leddy’s legal knowledge.
Glengael, from the interest which he took in his young friend,
Walkinshaw, whom he had left at the castle, was led to inquire somewhat
particularly into the history of the Kittlestonheugh family, expressing
his surprise and suspicion, in common with the rest of the company,
as to the motives which could have influenced a person of Milrookit’s
character to comply so readily with a demand so preposterous.
One thing led on to another, and Mr. Whitteret recollected something
of the deed which had been prepared when he was in Mr. Keelevin’s
office, and how old Grippy died before it was executed. The object of
this deed was then discussed, and the idea presenting itself to the
mind of Glengael, that, possibly, it might have some connection with
the Entail, inquired more particularly respecting the terms of that
very extraordinary settlement, expressing his astonishment that it
should not have contained a clause to oblige the person marrying the
heiress to take the name of Walkinshaw, to which the old man, by all
accounts, had been so much attached. The whole affair, the more it
was considered, seemed the more mysterious; and the conclusion in the
penetrating mind of Mr. Frazer was, that Milrookit had undoubtedly some
strong reason for so quietly hushing the old Leddy’s claim.
His opinion at the moment was, that Robina’s father had left a will,
making some liberal provision for his sister-in-law’s family; and that
Milrookit was anxious to stand on such terms with his connections, as
would prevent any of them, now that Walkinshaw had left Glasgow, from
inquiring too anxiously into the state of his father-in-law’s affairs.
But, without expressing what was passing in his mind, he so managed the
conversation as to draw out the several opinions of his legal brethren.
Some of them coincided with his own. There was, however, one old pawkie
and shrewd writer to the signet present, who remained silent, but whom
Mr. Frazer observed attending with an uncommon degree of earnest and
eager watchfulness to what was said, practising, in fact, nearly the
same sort of policy which prompted himself to lead the conversation.
Mr. Pilledge,--for so this W. S. was called--had acquired a
considerable fortune and reputation in the Parliament House, by the
address with which he discovered dormant rights and legal heirs; and
Mr. Frazer had no doubt, from the evident interest which he had taken
in the Kittlestonheugh story, that he would soon take some steps to
ascertain the real motives which had led Milrookit to act in the
Leddy’s case so inconsistently with his general character. In so far
he was, therefore, not displeased to observe his earnestness; but he
had often heard it said, that Mr. Pilledge was in the practice of
making bargains with those clients whose dormant rights he undertook
to establish, by which it was insinuated that he had chiefly built up
his fortune--his general practice being very limited; and Mr. Frazer
resolved to watch his movements, in order to protect his young friend.
This opinion of Pilledge was not unfounded; for the same evening,
after the party broke up, he accompanied Whitteret to the hotel where
he stayed, and, in the course of the walk, renewed the conversation
respecting the singular entail of old Grippy. The Glasgow lawyer
was shrewd enough to perceive, that such unusual interest in a case
where he had no concern could not be dictated by the mere wonder and
curiosity which the Writer to the Signet affected to express; but,
being unacquainted with the general character of Pilledge, he ascribed
his questions and conjectures to the effect of professional feelings
perplexed by a remarkable case.
But it happened next morning that he had occasion to attend a
consultation with Mr. Frazer, who, taking an opportunity to revert to
the subject, which had so occupied their attention on the preceding
afternoon, gave him a hint to be on his guard with respect to Pilledge,
suggesting, on Walkinshaw’s account, that Whitteret might find it of
advantage to himself, could he really ascertain the secret reasons
and motives by which the possessor of the Kittlestonheugh estate was
actuated.
‘It would not give you much trouble,’ said he, ‘were you to step into
the Register Office, and look at the terms of the original deed of
entail; for although the disinheritance of the eldest son, as I have
always understood, was final, there may be some flaw in the succession
with respect to the daughter.’
This extrajudicial advice was not lost. As soon as the consultation was
over, Whitteret went to the Register Office, where, not a little to his
surprise, he found Pilledge, as Frazer had suspected, already in the
act of reading the registered deed of the entail. A short conversation
then ensued, in which Whitteret intimated that he had also come for the
same purpose.
‘Then,’ said Pilledge, ‘let us go together, for it appears to me that
the heirs-female of the sons do not succeed before the heirs whatsoever
of the daughters; and Milrookit’s right would be preferable to that of
his wife, if the eldest son has not left a son.’
‘But the eldest son has left a son,’ replied Whitteret.
‘In that case,’ said Pilledge, ‘we may make a good thing of it with
him. I’ll propose to him to undertake his claim upon an agreement for
half the rent, in the event of success, and we can divide the bakes.’
‘You may save yourself the trouble,’ replied Whitteret coolly; ‘for I
shall write to him by the first post--in the meantime, Mr. Frazer has
authorized me to act.’
‘Frazer! how can he authorize you?’ said Pilledge, discontentedly.
‘He knows that best himself; but the right of the son of the eldest son
is so clear, that there will be no room for any proceedings.’
‘You are mistaken there,’ replied Pilledge, eagerly. ‘I never saw a
deed yet that I could not drive a horse and cart through, and I should
think that Milrookit is not such a fool as to part with the estate
without a struggle. But since you are agent for the heir of entail, I
will offer to conduct the respondent’s case. I think you said he is
rich, independent of the heritable subject.’
This conscientious conversation was abruptly terminated on the part of
Whitteret, who immediately went to Mr. Frazer, and communicated the
important discovery which had been made, with respect to Walkinshaw
being the heir of entail. He also mentioned something of what had
passed with Mr. Pilledge, expressing his apprehensions, from what he
knew of Pitwinnoch, Milrookit’s man of business, in Glasgow, that
Pilledge, with his assistance, might involve the heir in expensive
litigation.
Mr. Frazer knew enough of the metaphysical ingenuity of the Parliament
House, to be aware that, however clear and evident any right might
be, it was never beyond the possibility of dispute there, and he
immediately suggested that some steps should be taken, to induce
Milrookit at once to resign the possession of the property; but, while
they were thus speaking Pilledge was already on the road to Glasgow, to
apprise Milrookit of what was impending, and to counsel him to resist.