His brother and nephew
were, however, his heirs, though the estate was a poor one, but, when
minerals were discovered on the property, he persuaded Captain Royson
to agree that the entail should be broken, as certain business
developments could then be carried out more effectively. This was a
reasonable thing in itself, but, unhappily, the younger brother was
killed in the hunting-field, and some legal kink in the affair enabled
the baronet to reduce the widow and her son to actual poverty. Young
Royson made a gallant attempt to support his mother, but she died
nearly five years ago. Naturally, there was a mortal feud between him
and his uncle. Sir Richard's constant aim has been to crush his nephew.
He arranged matters so that the bare title alone would pass to the heir
at his death. Yet, on the very day that young Royson stopped your
frightened horses in Buckingham Palace Road, the baronet slipped on the
oak floor of the picture gallery in Orme Castle--that is the name of
their place in the North--and injured his spine.
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