Chapter XIII

           OFcourse,assoonasthestoryofLordFauntleroyandthedifficultiesoftheEarlofDorincourtwerediscussedintheEnglishnewspapers,theywerediscussedintheAmericannewspapers.Thestorywastoointerestingtobepassedoverlightly,anditwastalkedofagreatdeal.Thereweresomanyversionsofitthatitwouldhavebeenanedifyingthingtobuyallthepapersandcomparethem.Mr.Hobbsreadsomuchaboutitthathebecamequitebewildered.OnepaperdescribedhisyoungfriendCedricasaninfantinarms,—anotherasayoungmanatOxford,winningallthehonors,anddistinguishinghimselfbywritingGreekpoems;onesaidhewasengagedtoayoungladyofgreatbeauty,whowasthedaughterofaduke;anothersaidhehadjustbeenmarried;theonlything,infact,whichwasNOTsaidwasthathewasalittleboybetweensevenandeight,withhandsomelegsandcurlyhair.OnesaidhewasnorelationtotheEarlofDorincourtatall,butwasasmallimpostorwhohadsoldnewspapersandsleptinthestreetsofNewYorkbeforehismotherimposeduponthefamilylawyer,whocametoAmericatolookfortheEarl’sheir.ThencamethedescriptionsofthenewLordFauntleroyandhismother.Sometimesshewasagypsy,sometimesanactress,sometimesabeautifulSpaniard;butitwasalwaysagreedthattheEarlofDorincourtwasherdeadlyenemy,andwouldnotacknowledgehersonashisheirifhecouldhelpit,andasthereseemedtobesomeslightflawinthepapersshehadproduced,itwasexpectedthattherewouldbealongtrial,whichwouldbefarmoreinterestingthananythingevercarriedintocourtbefore.