icious as he was of
the terrible future consequences to which the act of that morning might
lead--even the spy started, when his eye first fell on the page. It was
done! Come what might of it, it was done now. There, in black and white,
was the registered evidence of the marriage, which was at once a truth
in itself, and a lie in the conclusion to which it led! There--through
the fatal similarity in the names--there, in Midwinter's own signature,
was the proof to persuade everybody that, not Midwinter, but Allan, was
the husband of Miss Gwilt!

Bashwood the younger closed the book, and returned it to the clerk.
He descended the vestry steps, with his hands thrust doggedly into
his pockets, and with a serious shock inflicted on his professional
self-esteem.

The beadle met him under the church wall. He considered for a moment
whether it was worth while to spend a shilling in questioning the man,
and decided in the affirmative. If they could be traced and overtaken,
there might be a chance of seeing the color of Mr. Armadale's money even
yet.

"How long is it," he asked, "since the first couple married here this
morning left the church?"

"About an hour," said the beadle.

"How did they go away?"

The beadle deferred answering that second question until he had first
pocketed his fee.

"You won't trace them from here, sir," he said, when he had got his
shilling. "They went away on foot."

"And that is all you know about it?"

"That, sir, is all I know about it."

Left by himself, even the Detective of the Private Inquiry Office paused
for a moment before he returned to his father at the gate. He was
roused from his hesitation by the sudden appearance, within the church
inclosure, of the driver of the cab.

"I'm afraid the old gentleman is going to be taken ill, sir," said the
man.

Bashwood the younger frowned angrily, and walked back to the cab. As he
opened the door and looked in, his father leaned forward and confronted
him, with lips that moved speechlessly, and with a white stillness over
all the rest of his face.

"She's done us," said the spy. "They were married here this morning."

The old man's body swayed for a moment from one side to the other. The
instant after, his eyes closed and his head fell forward toward the
front seat of the cab. "Drive to the hospital!" cried his son. "He's in
a fit. This is what comes of putting myself out of my way to please
my father," he muttered, sullenly raisin