“Yes. The Marchesa does me the honour to place her confidence in me; and it occurs to me that, before this unfortunate dispute----” “Why unfortunate?” interrupted Lynborough with an air of some surprise. “Surely it is--between neighbours? The Castle and the Grange should be friends.” His cunning suggestion elicited no response. “It occurred to me,” he continued, somewhat less glibly, “that, before further annoyance or expense was caused, it might be well if I talked matters over with your lordship’s solicitor.” “Sir,” said Lynborough, “saving your presence--which, I must beg you to remember, was not invited by me--I don’t like solicitors. I have no solicitor. I shall never have a solicitor. You can’t talk with a non-existent person.” “But proceedings are the natural--the almost inevitable result--of such a situation as your action has created, Lord Lynborough. My client can’t be flouted, she can’t have her indubitable rights outraged----” “Do you think they’re indubitable?” Lynborough put in, with a sudden quick flash of his eyes. For an instant Stillford hesitated. Then he made his orthodox reply. “As I am instructed, they certainly are.” “Ah!” said Lynborough drily. “No professional man could say more than that, Lord Lynborough.” “And they all say just as much! If I say anything you don’t like, again remember that this interview is not of my seeking, Mr Stillford.” Stillford waxed a trifle sarcastic. “You’ll conduct your case in person?” he asked. “If you hale me to court, I shall. Otherwise there’s no question of a case.” This time Stillford’s eyes brightened; yet still he doubted Lynborough’s meaning. “We shouldn’t hesitate to take our case into court.” “Since you’re wrong, you’d probably win,” said Lynborough, with a smile. “But I’d make it cost you the devil of a lot of money. That, at least, the law can do--I’m not aware that it can do much else. But, as far as I’m concerned, I should as soon appeal to the Pope of Rome in this matter as to a law-court--sooner, in fact.” Stillford grew more confidently happy--and more amazed at Lynborough. “But you’ve no right to--er--assert rights if you don’t intend to support them.” “I do intend to support them, Mr Stillford. That you’ll very soon find out.” “By force?” Stillford himself was gratified by the shocked solemnity which he achieved in this question. “If so, your side has no prejudice against legal proceedings. Prisons are not strange to me----” “What?” Stillford was a little startled. He had not heard all the stories about Lord Lynborough. “I say, prisons are not strange to me. If necessary, I can do a month. I am, however, not altogether a novice in the somewhat degrading art of getting the other man to hit first. Then he goes to prison, doesn’t he? Just like the law! As if that had anything to do with the merits!” Stillford kept his eye on the point valuable to him. “By supporting your claim I intended to convey supporting it by legal action.”