登陆注册
5229500000072

第72章 Chapter XXX. The Lord President.(1)

Mrs. Linley's application for a Divorce was heard in the first division of the Court of Session at Edinburgh, the Lord President being the judge.

To the disappointment of the large audience assembled, no defense was attempted on the part of the husband--a wise decision, seeing that the evidence of the wife and her witnesses was beyond dispute. But one exciting incident occurred toward the close of the proceedings. Sudden illness made Mrs. Linley's removal necessary, at the moment of all others most interesting to herself--the moment before the judge's decision was announced.

But, as the event proved, the poor lady's withdrawal was the most fortunate circumstance that could have occurred, in her own interests. After condemning the husband's conduct with unsparing severity, the Lord President surprised most of the persons present by speaking of the wife in these terms:

"Grievously as Mrs. Linley has been injured, the evidence shows that she was herself by no means free from blame. She has been guilty, to say the least of it, of acts of indiscretion. When the criminal attachment which had grown up between Mr. Herbert Linley and Miss Westerfield had been confessed to her, she appears to have most unreasonably overrated whatever merit there might have been in their resistance to the final temptation. She was indeed so impulsively ready to forgive (without waiting to see if the event justified the exercise of mercy) that she owns to having given her hand to Miss Westerfield, at parting, not half an hour after that young person's shameless forgetfulness of the claims of modesty, duty and gratitude had been first communicated to her. To say that this was the act of an inconsiderate woman, culpably indiscreet and, I had almost added, culpably indelicate, is only to say what she has deserved. On the next occasion to which I feel bound to advert, her conduct was even more deserving of censure. She herself appears to have placed the temptation under which he fell in her husband's way, and so (in some degree at least) to have provoked the catastrophe which has brought her before this court. I allude, it is needless to say, to her having invited the governess--then out of harm's way; then employed elsewhere--to return to her house, and to risk (what actually occurred) a meeting with Mr. Herbert Linley when no third person happened to be present. I know that the maternal motive which animated Mrs. Linley is considered, by many persons, to excuse and even to justify that most regrettable act; and I have myself allowed (I fear weakly allowed) more than due weight to this consideration in pronouncing for the Divorce. Let me express the earnest hope that Mrs. Linley will take warning by what has happened; and, if she finds herself hereafter placed in other circumstances of difficulty, let me advise her to exercise more control over impulses which one might expect perhaps to find in a young girl, but which are neither natural nor excusable in a woman of her age."

His lordship then decreed the Divorce in the customary form, giving the custody of the child to the mother.

* * * * *

As fast as a hired carriage could take him, Mr. Sarrazin drove from the court to Mrs. Linley's lodgings, to tell her that the one great object of securing her right to her child had been achieved.

At the door he was met by Mrs. Presty. She was accompanied by a stranger, whose medical services had been required. Interested professionally in hearing the result of the trial, this gentleman volunteered to communicate the good news to his patient. He had been waiting to administer a composing draught, until the suspense from which Mrs. Linley was suffering might be relieved, and a reasonable hope be entertained that the medicine would produce the right effect. With that explanation he left the room.

While the doctor was speaking, Mrs. Presty was drawing her own conclusions from a close scrutiny of Mr. Sarrazin's face.

"I am going to make a disagreeable remark," she announced. "You look ten years older, sir, than you did when you left us this morning to go to the Court. Do me a favor--come to the sideboard." The lawyer having obeyed, she poured out a glass of wine. "There is the remedy," she resumed, "when something has happened to worry you."

"'Worry' isn't the right word," Mr. Sarrazin declared. "I'm furious! It's a most improper thing for a person in my position to say of a person in the Lord President's position; but I do say it--he ought to be ashamed of himself."

"After giving us our Divorce!" Mrs. Presty exclaimed. "What has he done?"

Mr. Sarrazin repeated what the judge had said of Mrs. Linley. "In my opinion," he added, "such language as that is an insult to your daughter."

"And yet," Mrs. Presty repeated, "he has given us our Divorce."

She returned to the sideboard, poured out a second dose of the remedy against worry, and took it herself. "What sort of character does the Lord President bear?" she asked when she had emptied her glass.

This seemed to be an extraordinary question to put, under the circumstances. Mr. Sarrazin answered it, however, to the best of his ability. "An excellent character," he said--"that's the unaccountable part of it. I hear that he is one of the most careful and considerate men who ever sat on the bench. Excuse me, Mrs. Presty, I didn't intend to produce that impression on you."

"What impression, Mr. Sarrazin?"

"You look as if you thought there was some excuse for the judge."

"That's exactly what I do think."

"You find an excuse for him?

"I do."

"What is it, ma'am?"

"Constitutional infirmity, sir."

"May I ask of what nature?"

"You may. Gout."

Mr. Sarrazin thought he understood her at last. "You know the Lord President," he said.

Mrs. Presty denied it positively. "No, Mr. Sarrazin, I don't get at it in that way. I merely consult my experience of another official person of high rank, and apply it to the Lord President.

You know that my first husband was a Cabinet Minister?"

"I have heard you say so, Mrs. Presty, on more than one occasion."

同类推荐
  • 玉室经

    玉室经

    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。
  • Tarzan the Terrible

    Tarzan the Terrible

    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。
  • 鸦片事略

    鸦片事略

    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。
  • 佛说长寿王经

    佛说长寿王经

    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。
  • 北斗七星念诵仪轨

    北斗七星念诵仪轨

    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
  • 初南

    初南

    万年之前,魔界大败,魔界少主不断强化自己想要为父报仇,万年之后,天界为避免大战,与魔界尊主打赌,并以各自领土为赌注,但是谁会是其中的牺牲者,谁又是胜利者,一切真的只是个赌约吗?而五位拥有五行力的少年们,又将会如何选择?书友群822604729
  • 网游之悼念

    网游之悼念

    朴实无华的城战初阵,隐藏的是一颗称霸天下的心,是一股足以燃烧世界的热血,而他,却是——敌人!
  • 妃常有爱萌妃难逑

    妃常有爱萌妃难逑

    她游走于黑白两道,“暗界”的高级首领,可冷静睿智,也可慵懒迷糊,离奇昏迷,异世重生,成为洛家千年以来第一个女子,国宝程度可想而知!被视若掌上明珠她欣然接受,可那个王爷未婚夫,还得看她愿不愿意。不过这未婚夫来头可不小,大禹国天才二皇子,更是外人眼中冷酷无情的战神王爷,可为什么初见便被一个小小的婴儿吸引了目光.....片段一:“云疏哥哥,不能人道是什么意思?”初晴面上天真笑着,眼底悄然划过一丝邪恶。“.....”君云疏眼神有些纠结。“那人道是什么意思?”小丫头眼中的求知欲很强。“为人之道,犹指人伦。”君云疏给出了标准的答案。“那云疏哥哥你能人道。”初晴根据君云疏给的答案给出了自己的结论。“.......恩。”君云疏的耳根后面悄悄红了一小片。片段二:“这个林公子有些奇怪......”初晴微微皱眉。“哪里奇怪?”暮雪有些好奇。“不过林公子肯定不会是凶手!”暮雪继续写着验尸报告。“为什么?”“林公子长得那么帅!肯定不会是凶手!”暮雪抬头嘻嘻笑了起来,“可是被你夸过长得帅的男人一般都是凶手。”初晴眼角都没抬。“......”片段三:“呵呵,你真的了解战王爷吗?你知道在你看不到的地方他是怎样的残暴无情吗?”对面的女子面上一阵嘲讽。“那又怎样?”初晴淡定的喝了口水。“你不是一向很善良的吗?就那么任由他手上沾满了血腥?”女子微微瞪了眼,根本不相信。“那与我何干?若因为所谓的善良便要放弃自己所爱的人,我宁愿与他一同下地狱!”轻轻放下手中的杯子,优雅起身,笑着补充了一句:“还有,我之所以破案只是因为喜欢,不要认为我很善良。”疼爱包容的家人:“晴晴,想做什么便由着自己的心去,谁欺负了你,我洛飞云灭了他!”温柔体贴的大哥:“晴晴需要什么档案,大哥都给你拿来。”一同重生的妹妹:“她是本公主的姐姐!岂能容你欺负?”可是让她觉得重生最大的收获,还是她六岁时便被定下来的夫君......怎么说呢?这是一个异能少女重生为备倍受宠爱的大户人家的小姐的故事,这是两个个异能少女带领着团队去侦破各种奇闻冤案的故事。更是一个大龄王爷历尽艰辛终于追到娇妻的血泪史!萌萌的女主,萌萌的年龄差,爱看宠文与推理的菇凉戳进来吧!
  • 重生皇后,朕错了

    重生皇后,朕错了

    百般刁难,深受危机,她从容以对。姬妾笑里藏刀,针锋相对,她百般隐忍,冷静为营。他横眉冷对,她面不改色。一朝鞭挞,他懊悔无及,为她不顾一切,奈何爱没出口,她身已陨。陨身归来,她凌厉锋芒尽现,步步反戈,让他再也没有资格碰她!他发誓此生终要将她追回……
  • 孕产妇健康生活指南

    孕产妇健康生活指南

    从优生学和生物学最新观念来讲,“座上喜”不利于优生。因为新婚蜜月期间,夫妻为筹备婚礼疲劳不堪,新婚佳期少不了陪酒吸烟,酒中乙醇、烟中尼古丁等都可间接或直接使发育中的精子和卵子受损害。加之蜜月期间性生活频繁,精子和卵子质量下降。这种受毒害而质量又不高的受精卵发育成胎儿,容易导致流产、死胎、胎儿畸形、智力低下等后果。因此,新婚夫妇不宜在蜜月期间怀孕。
  • 太上洞玄宝元上经

    太上洞玄宝元上经

    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。
  • 妾本庶出

    妾本庶出

    宅斗、种田、爱情、雪冤、励志京城最大的扫帚星要娶亲,嫡母巧舌如簧,竟将她送入虎口。虽为庶女,可她又岂容人任意欺凌?此女,外表柔顺内心强悍,貌似单纯实则狡猾,前一世为名利忙忙碌碌,这一世,她想做的事情并不多,护着娘不被正房嫡妻欺凌,护着幼弟平安健康长大,偏偏一道圣旨令她嫁入公主府。既来之则安之,看她如何八面玲珑,舌战极品亲戚,脚踢险恶手足。只是,不论她再如何强势,却依旧改变不了丈夫面容被毁,身有残疾的事实。原本以为这一生就这般浑噩的过,却不料那冷面相公每每转身都能给自己带来无限的惊喜和错愕。——他,公主嫡子,本该是封侯拜相的天之娇子,却因为六年前一场意外,让他跌入谷底,成了皇上最避忌的人,也成了人人恐嫁的扫帚星。其实他要的不多,有她的爱,此生足矣。他求的是一个机会,一个华丽转身的机遇,亲手给她无限荣光,还有别样的完美生活……——他,集万千宠爱于一身的皇子,亲手将她送入他所敬佩的男人怀里,却抵不过心底的情丝蔓延。——他,恨她在自己最大的敌人身后撑起一片蓝天,到底是该将她碎尸万段,还是据为己有?◇◇◇推荐菡笑的新坑《重生之嫡女不乖》,求收藏、求包养种田、宅斗、复仇、欢喜冤家前世,她太过懦弱、太过信任他人,被心上人和至亲连手推入最难堪的境地,却原来,所有的脉脉柔情和温暖关怀,都不过是为了她不菲的财产和那个不欲人知的秘密。心碎的她,在他面前焚毁一切。自黑暗之中醒来,她竟重生到了四年前,那时,父母刚刚双亡,她刚刚踏入伯爵府,再一次,她站在了命运的转折点前。带着浓浓恨意重生的她,化身为一半佳人一半魔鬼的罂粟花,誓要向那些恣意践踏她尊严的人,索回一切……精彩抢先看:“小姐,舅夫人竟然四处诋毁您的名誉,把您说得刁蛮任性不识好歹,表小姐的缺点全放到您身上,太可气了!”忠心的丫头义愤填膺。“那又如何?”俞筱晚只是淡然浅笑,前世的她就是太过在意名声,才会处处受制于人,如今的她只想潇洒恣意地活,旁人的流言蜚语,不过是耳旁轻风。不就是怕她的巨额嫁妆流入外人田吗?她还非要将带着十里红妆,风光出嫁不可了。只不过,怎么挑来挑去,竟挑了一个跟她明显属于一类的家伙?本文复仇是必然滴,基调是温馨滴,过程是曲折滴、结局是圆满滴,男主是有爱滴,女主是表里完全不一滴,收藏了,一定不会后悔滴╰( ̄▽ ̄)╮~~~~~
  • 诸师真诰

    诸师真诰

    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。
  • 腹黑王爷宠妃记

    腹黑王爷宠妃记

    特工队的头领林一执行任务途中忽然穿越成为西戌朝代丞相府三小姐,这三小姐,从小没娘,爹不宠,大娘不爱!还有个恶毒的大姐!还好天不亡我,有个疼爱自己的奶奶和王爷夫君!加上腹黑王爷的宠爱,林一开始在西戌的穿越生活!斗娘斗姐斗小三小四小五!不亦乐乎!不过,这腹黑王爷貌似还是个醋坛子!动不动就吃醋!王爷,咱还能不能好好谈恋爱了
  • 科技传播系统

    科技传播系统

    罗修,一个杂役院弟子,天生的废物,直到有一天,他偶然间得到了一个来自异界的系统,为他打开了新的天地,也为他的修炼带来了天翻地覆的变化,看他一步步走向虚空,走向宇宙,走向无尽的未来。精彩内容期待您的关注!