No one disputed the will; no one disputed anything but whether part of that three hundred pounds had been already paid or not.

To settle that question, my brother filing a bill, I was obliged to go into this accursed Chancery; I was forced there because the law forced me and would let me go nowhere else.
Seventeen people were made defendants to that simple suit! It first came on after two years.

It was then stopped for another two years while the master (may his head rot off!) inquired whether I was my father's son, about which there was no dispute at all with any mortal creature.

He then found out that there were not defendants enough--remember, there were only seventeen as yet!--but that we must have another who had been left out and must begin all over again.

The costs at that time--before the thing was begun!--were three times the legacy.