On the 17th November, 1869, while Mr. Grey was collecting the Derwentwater rents, the countess marched into the apartment, at the head of her attendants, to forbid the proceedings.  She was richly apparelled, but her semi-military guise did not save herself, or those who came with her, from being somewhat rudely ejected.  Her sole consolation was that the mob cheered her lustily as she drove off in her carriage.

On the 5th of January, in the following year, a great demonstration in her favour took place at Consett, in the county of Durham.  A few days previously a large quantity of live stock had been seized at the instance of the countess, for rent alleged to be due to her, and an interdict had been obtained against her, prohibiting her from disposing of it.  However, she defied the law, and in the midst of something very like a riot, the cattle were sold, flags were waved, speeches were made, and the moment was perhaps the proudest which the heiress of the Derwentwaters is likely to see in this country.

Such conduct could not be tolerated.  The Lords of the Admiralty were roused, and formally announced that the claims of the so-called countess were frivolous.  They also warned their tenants against paying their rents to her, and took out summonses against those who had assisted at the sale.  On the 16th of January, the ringleaders in the disgraceful affair were committed for trial.

Notwithstanding this untoward contretemps, the countess made a further attempt, in February, to collect the rents of the forty-two freehold estates, which she said belonged to her.  But the bailiffs were in force and resisted her successfully, being aided in their work by a severe snowstorm, which completely cowed her followers, although it did not cool her own courage.  On the 11th of February, 1870, the Lords of the Admiralty applied for an injunction to prevent the so-called countess from entering on the Greenwich estates, and their application was immediately granted.  Shortly afterwards the bailiff acting on behalf of the countess, and the ringleaders in the Consett affair, were sentenced to short terms of imprisonment.  Thus those in possession of the property could boast a decided victory.

But the law courts are free to all, and the countess determined to take the initiative.  She had jewels, and pictures, and documents which would at once prove her identity and the justice of her claim.  Unfortunately they were all in Germany, and the lady was penniless.  By the generosity of certain confiding gentlemen, about L2000 was advanced, on loan, to bring them to this country.  They came, but their appearance was not satisfactory even to the creditors, who became clamorous for their money.  There was only one way left to satisfy them, and Amelia, of Derwentwater, took it.  The jewels and pictures were brought to the hammer in an auction-room in Hexham—­the countess disappeared from public ken, and the newspapers ceased to chronicle her extraordinary movements.