Thus did Lady Jean triumph eight years after her scheming brain was stilled in death.

The rest of this singular story must be told in few words, although its history covers many years, and would require a volume to do adequate justice to it.  Within a few months of the Duke’s death the curtain was rung up on the great Douglas Case, which for seven long years was to be the chief topic of discussion and dispute throughout Great Britain.  Archibald’s title to the Douglas lands was contested by the Duke of Hamilton and the Earl of Selkirk, the former claiming as heir-male, the latter under settlements made by the Duke’s father.  Clever brains were set to work to solve the tangle in which the birth of the mysterious twins was involved.  Emissaries were sent to France to collect evidence on one side and the other; notably Andrew Stewart, tutor to the young Duke of Hamilton, who seems to have been a perfect sleuth-hound of detective skill; and it was not until 1768 that the Scottish Court of Session gave its verdict, by the Lord-President’s casting-vote (seven judges voting for and seven against) against Lady Jean’s son.

“The judges,” we are told, “took up no less than eight days in delivering their opinions upon the cause; and at last, by the President’s casting-vote, they pronounced solemn judgment in favour of the plaintiffs.”

Meanwhile (four years earlier) Sir John Stewart had followed his wife to the grave, declaring, just before his death: 

“I do solemnly swear before God, as stepping into Eternity, that Lady Jean Douglas, my lawful spouse, did in the year 1748, bring into the world two sons, Archibald and Sholto; and I firmly believe the children were mine, as I am sure they were hers.  Of the two sons, Archibald is the only one in life now.”

But Archibald Douglas was not long to remain out of his estates.  On appeal to the House of Lords, the decree of the Scottish Court was reversed, and the victory of Lady Jean’s son was final and complete.

Of his later career it remains only to say that he entered Parliament and was created a Peer; and that he conducted himself in his exalted position with a dignity worthy of the parentage he had established.  But, although he became the father of eight sons, four of whom succeeded him in the title, no grandson came to inherit his honours and estates; and to-day the Douglas lands, for which Lady Jean schemed and fought and laid down her life, have the Earl of Home for lord.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE MAYPOLE DUCHESS

For many a century, ever since her history emerged from the mists of antiquity, Germany never lacked a Schulenburg to grace her Courts, to lead her armies, or to wear the mitre in her churches.  They held their haughty heads high among the greatest subjects of her emperors; their family-tree bristled with marshals and generals, bishops and ambassadors; and they waxed so strong and so numerous that they came to be distinguished as “Black Schulenburgs” and “White Schulenburgs,” as our own Douglases were “black” and “red.”