David having received his instructions, set about the necessary preliminaries without a moment’s delay.
Owen begged for leave of absence for one day to fulfil his promise to Captain Aggett, by visiting his widow, who lived some way from London.
“I am thankful, most thankful for what you tell me, Mr Hartley,” she exclaimed, “that he died in peace as a Christian. Though I shall see him no more on earth, we shall, I know, meet in heaven.” It was a satisfaction to Owen to feel that his visit had brought comfort to the heart of his kind friend’s widow, to whom he was afterwards able to render the material assistance her husband had expressed his anxiety to afford her.
Mr Fluke returned every day at an unusually early hour from the office that he might have more of Owen’s society.
Owen had mentioned his two naval friends. “Bring them here to dinner,” said Mr Fluke. “Kezia shall prepare a feast, for they deserve it, and I’ll show them my tulips.”
Owen found both Lieutenant Leigh and Langton, who had received his promotion, at their lodgings. They willingly accepted his invitation, when he explained who Mr Fluke was, and how much depended on him. Kezia took care to have a handsome dinner, and a man-servant to wait, and had, moreover, induced her master to put on a new suit and wig, so that when Owen came in he scarcely knew him. The two officers undertook to remain within call in case their evidence should be required at the trial.
They had just taken their places at dinner when David Rowe was announced. Having paid his respects to the master of the house, shaking hands with Owen, and made his bow to the other guests, he took his seat.
“I do not want to spoil anybody’s appetite, and I hope good news won’t do that,” he said, “for good news, and wonderful news, I have to communicate. Have I your leave to make it known in the presence of these gentlemen, Mr Fluke?”
“Certainly, certainly, if you think fit, Mr Rowe,” was the answer.
“Then allow me to congratulate Lord Arlingford on his accession to his family title and estates, but I hope, as I do so, that he will not object to take the name of Ashurst. We have made quick work of it. From information I received, I was induced to go down and see the ci-devant Lord Arlingford. I found him very ill and without a particle of combativeness, so I told him of all the information I possessed, and gave him his choice to contest the point, assuring him that we had unlimited supplies at command, or to yield at once, and save a family scandal. As he appeared inclined to take my advice, I promised him an annuity of a thousand a year, knowing from his circumstances that he was not likely to enjoy even so much as that should he retain his title. He immediately accepted my offer, acknowledging that your claim was valid. Of course I made my offer subject to the approval of the true Lord Arlingford. There must be a trial pro forma, legally to settle the point, but it will prove a very short one.”