"It is no pretence, sir," replied Stanislas, with dignity.
"What! You call yourself a Wilders! By what right?"
"My mother is first cousin to the present Lord Essendine."
"Through whom?"
"Her father, Anastasius Wilders."
"I know—my father's brother. Then you belong to the elder branch. But I never heard that he married."
"He married Priscilla Coxon in 1805."
"Privately?"
"I believe not. But it was much against his father's wish, and his wife was never recognised by the family. His widow—you know my grandfather died early--married a second time, and thus increased the breach between the families."
"It's a strange story. I don't know what to think of it. These statements of yours—can they be substantiated?"