text:  Alas! none at present entertained the smallest suspicion to what extent! Preparatory to the settlements made by the General on Lord and Lady Robert Stanley it had been found necessary to place in the hands of his lordship's solicitors the deeds of the Lexley Hall estate; when lo! to the consternation of all parties it appeared that the General's title was an unsound one; that by the general terms of this ancient property rights of heirship could only be evaded by the payment of a certain fine after intimation of sale in a certain form to the nearest-of-kin of the heir in possession which form had been overlooked or wantonly neglected by Sir Laurence Altham! The discovery was indeed embarrassing