“Not exactly that, Sir Marcus,” said the sheriff. “I have been requested to attend here to investigate two important cases, in both of which Lord Claymore, who is known to you, has taken much interest. At his request, my two learned friends, Mr Scott and Mr Frazer, have come from Edinburgh to assist us in our investigations; but it depends on circumstances whether the cases are or are not carried into a court of law, and thus made public. With which shall we proceed first, my lord?”
“By all means with that relating to the son of a lady present—the wife of a Spanish officer, Don Hernan Escalante,” said Lord Claymore. “We all must feel how anxious she must be to know that the interests of her child have been secured.”
It is not necessary to describe all the examinations which took place. Hilda’s marriage with Don Hernan was proved by three surviving witnesses—Father Mendez, Pedro Alvarez, and Rolf Morton, though the loss of the certificate, one of the lawyers was of opinion, might prove a difficulty in a Spanish court.
“It is one a few hundred dollars may get over,” observed Pedro Alvarez, with a shrug of his shoulders.
The birth of the child, and its abduction by strangers, was proved with equal ease. And now Captain Tacon was led forward, and in pure Castilian, which Pedro Alvarez translated, confessed that he was the person who carried off the young Hernan.
“But there, there is the man who instigated me to commit the deed!” he exclaimed, pointing to the marquis, who lay on the sofa with his eyes half closed.
“Yes, I confess my crime,” said the old man, slowly raising himself up. “I have enjoyed but little happiness since. My palaces have been burnt down, and my plate and jewels carried off by the French. May the rightful owner enjoy what remains. I have done what my father confessor directed. I am prepared for the grave which yawns to receive me, and a few hundred dollars which my daughter possesses will enable her to enter a convent, and there forget my sorrow and shame.”
Pedro Alvarez then described his recovery of young Hernan, and his career up to the moment he parted from him.
“I can without difficulty communicate with friends in France, who will inform him of what has occurred, and enable him to come here without delay,” he added. “Thence he can go to Spain, and take possession of his estates.”
What the marquis had said was translated to Sir Marcus. The number of people collected, and the discussions taking place, had had the effect of rousing him up, and his intellect seemed as bright and acute as ever.