登陆注册
5227000000195

第195章 CHAPTER THE FORTY-SIXTH. A SCOTCH MARRIAGE.(3)

Lady Lundie looked from one to the other with unconcealed impatience as these formal courtesies were exchanged between the lawyers. "Allow me to remind you, gentlemen, of the suspense that we are suffering at this end of the room," she said. "And permit me to ask when you propose to begin?"

Sir Patrick looked invitingly at Mr. Moy. Mr. Moy looked invitingly at Sir Patrick. More formal courtesies! a polite contest this time as to which of the two learned gentlemen should permit the other to speak first! Mr. Moy's modesty proving to be quite immovable, Sir Patrick ended it by opening the proceedings.

"I am here," he said, "to act on behalf of my friend, Mr. Arnold Brinkworth. I beg to present him to you, Mr. Moy as the husband of my niece--to whom he was lawfully married on the seventh of September last, at the Church of Saint Margaret, in the parish of Hawley, Kent. I have a copy of the marriage certificate here--if you wish to look at it."

Mr. Moy's modesty declined to look at it.

"Quite needless, Sir Patrick! I admit that a marriage ceremony took place on the date named, between the persons named; but I contend that it was not a valid marriage. I say, on behalf of my client here present (Mr. Geoffrey Delamayn), that Arnold Brinkworth was married at a date prior to the seventh of September last--namely, on the fourteenth of August in this year, and at a place called Craig Fernie, in Scotland--to a lady named Anne Silvester, now living, and present among us (as I understand) at this moment."

Sir Patrick presented Anne. "This is the lady, Mr. Moy."

Mr. Moy bowed, and made a suggestion. "To save needless formalities, Sir Patrick, shall we take the question of identity as established on both sides?"

Sir Patrick agreed with his learned friend. Lad y Lundie opened and shut her fan in undisguised impatience. The London solicitor was deeply interested. Captain Newenden, taking out his handkerchief, and using it as a screen, yawned behind it to his heart's content. Sir Patrick resumed.

"You assert the prior marriage," he said to his colleague. "It rests with you to begin."

Mr. Moy cast a preliminary look round him at the persons assembled.

"The object of our meeting here," he said, "is, if I am not mistaken, of a twofold nature. In the first place, it is thought desirable, by a person who has a special interest in the issue of this inquiry" (he glanced at the captain--the captain suddenly became attentive), "to put my client's assertion, relating to Mr. Brinkworth's marriage, to the proof. In the second place, we are all equally desirous--whatever difference of opinion may otherwise exist--to make this informal inquiry a means, if possible, of avoiding the painful publicity which would result from an appeal to a Court of Law."

At those words the gathered venom in Lady Lundie planted its second sting--under cover of a protest addressed to Mr. Moy.

"I beg to inform you, Sir, on behalf of my step-daughter," she said, "that we have nothing to dread from the widest publicity.

We consent to be present at, what you call, 'this informal inquiry,' reserving our right to carry the matter beyond the four walls of this room. I am not referring now to Mr. Brinkworth's chance of clearing himself from an odious suspicion which rests upon him, and upon another Person present. That is an after-matter. The object immediately before us--so far as a woman can pretend to understand it--is to establish my step-daughter's right to call Mr. Brinkworth to account in the character of his wife. If the result, so far, fails to satisfy us in that particular, we shall not hesitate to appeal to a Court of Law."

She leaned back in her chair, and opened her fan, and looked round her with the air of a woman who called society to witness that she had done her duty.

An expression of pain crossed Blanche's face while her step-mother was speaking. Lady Lundie took her hand for the second time. Blanche resolutely and pointedly withdrew it--Sir Patrick noticing the action with special interest. Before Mr. Moy could say a word in answer, Arnold centred the general attention on himself by suddenly interfering in the proceedings. Blanche looked at him. A bright flash of color appeared on her face--and left it again. Sir Patrick noted the change of color--and observed her more attentively than ever. Arnold's letter to his wife, with time to help it, had plainly shaken her ladyship's influence over Blanche.

"After what Lady Lundie has said, in my wife's presence," Arnold burst out, in his straightforward, boyish way, "I think I ought to be allowed to say a word on my side. I only want to explain how it was I came to go to Craig Fernie at all--and I challenge Mr. Geoffrey Delamayn to deny it, if he can."

His voice rose at the last words, and his eyes brightened with indignation as he looked at Geoffrey.

Mr. Moy appealed to his learned friend.

"With submission, Sir Patrick, to your better judgment," he said, "this young gentleman's proposal seems to be a little out of place at the present stage of the proceedings."

"Pardon me," answered Sir Patrick. "You have yourself described the proceedings as representing an informal inquiry. An informal proposal--with submission to _your_ better judgment, Mr. Moy--is hardly out of place, under those circumstances, is it?"

Mr. Moy's inexhaustible modesty gave way, without a struggle. The answer which he received had the effect of puzzling him at the outset of the investigation. A man of Sir Patrick's experience must have known that Arnold's mere assertion of his own innocence could be productive of nothing but useless delay in the proceedings. And yet he sanctioned that delay. Was he privately on the watch for any accidental circumstance which might help him to better a case that he knew to be a bad one?

同类推荐
  • 成唯识论演秘

    成唯识论演秘

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玉箓资度早朝仪

    玉箓资度早朝仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 跻云楼

    跻云楼

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 根本说一切有部目得迦

    根本说一切有部目得迦

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 西州院

    西州院

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 离开我,遇见我

    离开我,遇见我

    离开是为了更好的遇见,因为无论离开还是遇见,都是一切故事的开场。那一年的肯尼,独自求学英国,带着过往的小小伤痕渴望在古堡环伺、树木参天的陌生国度开启新的人生,有亲情的拉扯也有友情的羁绊,但最终他遇见了朋友、遇见了故事,也遇见了满满的过往和青春。有过欣喜狂欢,也有过困惑迷茫,毕竟人生的路那么长,总有人在不知不觉间遗失分散,但那些生命中因他们相伴而浓墨重彩的日子永远不会褪色。多像一场梦啊,好庆幸曾经陪我追梦和圆梦的那个人可以是你。
  • 独妻策,倾城花嫁

    独妻策,倾城花嫁

    新文《倾君策,隐身贵女》已开更,敬请支持!!http://m.wkkk.net/a/1227201/m.wkkk.net她掩藏真我,低调生活,隐身在姐妹的光芒之后,一双素手暗搅风云。*古代闪婚,她作别十四年的平静生活,从水深火热到风生水起。*奉旨挑妻,冷昭选中最最平庸的温彩。他要挑个乖乖听话又顺从的小娘子,然,堂堂大将军竟看走了眼,娶回一个大麻烦。父命难违,她压抑本性,人前披着羊皮,人后磨亮虎爪,助他挣来“美名”。*她原想安分守己做个贤妻良母,不曾想却是他声声唤“彩云”,拿她当生孩的工具。当她是母猪么?丫丫的,她磨爪霍霍,挥拳嗖嗖,干净俐落将他痛揍一顿。不给嫡妻名份,那是留给意中人的;让她生子,那是因他意中人不育……她之于他,不过是他成功娶到心爱女子的工具。*她本聪慧,却偏扮愚笨;她本有才,却故作大字不识……她只在喜欢的人面前暴露真正的自己:下得厨房、出得厅堂,内会掌后院端家风,外能赚银财满钵。本是结发夫妻,却因他心之所属步步错,在她委屈难奈下结束了一段错配姻缘。实情昭然,他才发现自己是天下最大的傻瓜。数载后,她为相爱男子再披嫁衣,倾城嫁妆惊呆了他的眼,也刺痛他的心。*简介无能,大体内容相符,请读友大人关注支持并投票收藏!!推荐其他文:《倾君策,隐身贵女》http://m.wkkk.net/a/1227201/m.wkkk.net《贵女临门:暴君的伪善皇后》http://m.wkkk.net/a/1382192/m.wkkk.net《倾天策:绝代女仙》http://m.wkkk.net/a/1073105/m.wkkk.net
  • 前列腺病实用自我疗法(实用自我疗法系列)

    前列腺病实用自我疗法(实用自我疗法系列)

    前列腺病是男性的“专利”,给男性朋友的生活带来很大的影响。本书从正确了解前列腺,正确检查前列腺病、前列腺炎、前列腺增生症,前列腺疾病的饮食治疗等方面为患者提供权威的医学指导。
  • 美人倾国倾城之沧海遗珠

    美人倾国倾城之沧海遗珠

    她是生于冷宫,受尽欺凌的落魄公主;她是才智卓绝,知人善任的君侧第一谋士;她是点石成金,化敌为友,最受奴仆敬重的主人;她是官印经典,赈灾治疫,受百姓生祠拜祭的河神……深宫如棋局,一步一惊心。宫闱倾轧使她蒙冤入狱,夺储之争又令她错嫁他人。复仇之火一旦点燃,所到之处皆成灰土。然皇帝父亲深邃却无法言说的爱怜,倔犟少年炽烈而一往情深的热恋,能否将她冻结的心融成秋日里的缓缓溪流,让山茶花沐寒而开,在海阔天空里绽放出一片云淡风轻?
  • 凤逆九天:爆宠特工皇妃

    凤逆九天:爆宠特工皇妃

    她只是一个穿越过来毫不起眼的小宫女,却思绪缜密,有颜有脑。他是欲求天下有着雄才大略的一国军师,却处处受制于人。她算天算地算机关,却算不到自己的心。她为他夺兵权,除蛮夷,却最后被他所伤。倾城帝后,人中龙凤。究竟是相爱相依。还是死生不复相见?情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 画蛾眉:一笑倾城百日香

    画蛾眉:一笑倾城百日香

    文案她是天朝六军元帅独生女儿,未及豆蔻之年,已是天下最美的女人。天下传说,她有一张惊魂摄魄的脸,一笑倾城,再笑倾国,三笑,则必定倾命。当朝太后的一面懿旨,她无从选择的嫁与天家皇子,消息一出,霎时,天下哗然,直说自古倾城多祸水,何况倾城倾国倾人命。将府之中,她心中冷笑,神色疏离,自顾悠然,全不在意。她的夫婿,传说中,年少英勇,心气高华,曾是功高骇世绝世英才,而自三年以前,大败宋国得胜还朝之后便销声匿迹的七荣王,竟也出人意料的允旨成婚,愿意娶她这个名闻天下的绝色祸水。嫁入天家,她原就当做玩笑,何况早已心有所属,更是万事从容,斑斑周全。大婚当夜,乐鼓震天,举朝笙歌,她安之若素,端的一身清华高傲。只是,她并未料到,传说中万般大义分明的七皇子,竟是如此语出惊人……
  • 超神学院之银河之巅

    超神学院之银河之巅

    当外星文明入侵的那一天起,地球卷入了一场天使恶魔的星际战争。人们终于知道各国的冲突,纠纷必须要放下,这样才能保护自己的家园——地球。当巨型星舰工程开启的那一天,地球文明终于离开了银河系,去外太空未知星球,紧接着又是无限的战争,在这几千年来的战争中不断涌现出英勇无惧的战士和锋出霄芒的亮剑精神。中本文脱离超神宇宙不喜勿喷,有意见尽管提。群聊号码:133371972
  • 被时光掩埋的爱情

    被时光掩埋的爱情

    分隔五年后的爱恨情仇,揪心三角恋。五年前父亲的一个突然决定,让我离开了最爱的他,却得到了最讨厌他,我本以为五年不会改变什么,可当我五年后回来,却什么都变了,他变得冰冷,无情,冷漠的令人无法靠近。五年的经历,对我来说无非是一个沼泽,可为了能跟最爱的他在一起,我又一次选择了深入沼泽,可每一次救我出来的,却是最讨厌的他。现在想想,当初的想法确实天真,五年,可以改变的东西实在太多了。比如说:昔日男友变的冷酷,上司腹黑纠缠不休。却偏偏命运弄人,到头来终究是一场空。那些被时光掩埋的日子里,我们曾在一起牵手过,拥抱过,哭过,快乐过......
  • 触摸历史与进入五四

    触摸历史与进入五四

    《触摸历史与进入五四》从一场运动(“五四”那天广场上的学生运动)、一份杂志(《新青年》)、一位校长(蔡元培)、一册文章(《章太炎的白话文》)及一本诗集(胡适《尝试集》)入手,谈论“五四”新文化运动。作者借鉴新历史主义的研究方法,借助若干意味深长的细节、断片、个案,来钩稽并重建历史,强调是晚清与"五四"两代人的共谋与合力,才完成了中国文化从古典到现代的转型。全书史料的钩稽与细节的描述相映成趣,读者不难在这两者的张力中间深切体会"五四"那代人所处的历史语境、政治立场、文化趣味及学术思路,读来饶有趣味。
  • 爱的纯度

    爱的纯度

    “如果我要你娶我你会娶我吗?”“我不作假设性回答!”“那我现在要你娶我你会娶我吗?”“你当真嫁给我吗?”“我说如果!”“我不作假设性回答!”“我当真想嫁给你!”“你当真想嫁给我,我会娶你!”他凡事都讲究原则、规则,所有的事情说放下就可以放下。她工作中运用的是微积分,生活只会用的是加减法。当简单的她遇到死守规则的他,壹加壹还等于二吗?