‘Difficult, perhaps; but if she has been in the charge of the same people all her life, and those people are credible witnesses——’ ‘Credible witnesses!’ cried Churchill, contemptuously. ‘The man who has brought up this girl belongs to the dregs of society, and if, by a little hard swearing he can foist this stray adoption of his upon society as the rightful owner of the Penwyn estate, do you suppose he will shrink from a little more or less perjury? Credible witnesses! No man’s property in the land is secure if claimants such as this can arise “to push us from our stools.”’ ‘This Mr. Clissold is a gentleman, and a man of good family, is he not?’ ‘He belongs to decent people, I believe, but that is no reason why he should not be an adventurer. There are plenty of well-born adventurers in the world.’ ‘No doubt, no doubt,’ replied Mr. Pergament, blandly. In his private capacity, as a Christian and a gentleman, he was benevolently sympathetic; but the idea of a contested estate was not altogether unpleasing to his professional mind. ‘Who are Mr. Clissold’s lawyers?’ ‘Messrs. Willgross and Harding.’ ‘A highly respectable firm—old established—in every way reputable. I do not think they would take up a speculative case.’ ‘I do not feel sure that they will take up this case, though Mr. Clissold appeared to think so,’ answered Churchill. ‘However, your business is to be prepared. Remember, I shall fight this to the bitter end. Let them prove the marriage if they can. It will be for our side to deny that there was ever any issue of that marriage.’ ‘Humph,’ mused the lawyer. ‘There, assuredly, lies the weakness of their case. Child’s birth not registered, child brought up by strolling player. Yes, we will fight, Mr. Penwyn. Pray keep your mind easy. I will get counsel’s opinion without delay if you desire it, and I suppose in a case so nearly affecting your interests you would prefer an unprejudiced opinion to being your own adviser. The best men shall be secured for our side.’ ‘Which do you call the best men?’ Mr. Pergament named three of the most illustrious lights of the equity bar. ‘Very good men in their way, no doubt,’ said Churchill, ‘but I would rather have Shinebarr, Shandrish, and—say, McStinger.’ Mr. Pergament looked horrified. ‘My dear sir, clever men, but unscrupulous, notoriously unscrupulous.’ ‘My dear Pergament, when a gang of swindlers hatch a conspiracy to deprive me of house and home, I don’t want my rights defended by scrupulous men.’ ‘But, really, Shandrish, a man I never gave a brief to in my life,’ remonstrated the solicitor. ‘What does that signify? It is my battle we have to fight, and you must let me choose my weapons.’ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XV ‘ENID, THE PILOT STAR OF MY LONE LIFE.’