hood, who had heard a vague report of his being married to a Lady who had run away the same day to a Convent, conjectured that he had gone a volunteer to the wars under a borrowed name, and had fallen undistinguished among the slain.
This idea soon got abroad, and was generally credited, so that the present Baron found but little difficulty in prevailing upon the Emperor to allow him the possession of the estates, to which he was the legal heir, on the demise of Baron S———. The express sent by Count M———, addressed to the steward, or possessor of the estate, had infinitely surprised him; but as it brought a confirmation of his relation's death, it relieved him from a doubt which had often given him pain, lest he should be dispossessed of his fortune. Curiosity induced him to take the journey, accompanied by his son, and no time was lost in putting his design into execution.
