Have you got such a thing as a birth certificate to show ?" "Yes," answered Claudius, after a pause.

"I have everything in perfect order, my mother's marriage and all." "Then why, in Heaven's name, can you not show it, and put all these rascally lawyers to flight ?" "Because--" Claudius began, but he hesitated and stopped.

"It is a curious story," he said, "and it is precisely what I want to talk to you about." "Is it very long ?" asked the Duke; "I have not dined yet." "No, it will not take long, and if you have nothing better to do we will dine together afterwards.

But first there are two things I want to say.
If I prove to you that I am the son of my uncle's sister, will you tell Mr.Screw that you know it for a fact, that is, that if it had to be sworn to, you would be willing to swear to it ?" "If you prove it to me so that I am legally sure of it, of course I will." "The other thing I will ask you is, not to divulge what I shall tell you, or show you.

You may imagine from my being unwilling to show these papers, even to a lawyer, when my own fortune is concerned, that I attach some importance to secrecy." "You may trust me," said the Duke; "you have my word," he added, as if reluctantly.