in the register is not a proof of my marriage?'

"'It is a proof,' said the doctor, 'that you have been married to
somebody. But it is no proof that you have been married to Mr. Armadale
of Thorpe Ambrose. Jack Nokes or Tom Styles (excuse the homeliness of
the illustration!) might have got the license, and gone to the church to
be married to you under Mr. Armadale's name; and the register (how
could it do otherwise?) must in that case have innocently assisted the
deception. I see I surprise you. My dear madam, when you opened this
interesting business you surprised _me_--I may own it now--by laying so
much stress on the curious similarity between the two names. You might
have entered on the very daring and romantic enterprise in which you
are now engaged, without necessarily marrying your present husband. Any
other man would have done just as well, provided he was willing to take
Mr. Armadale's name for the purpose.'

"I felt my temper going at this. 'Any other man would _not_ have done
just as well,' I rejoined, instantly. 'But for the similarity of the
names, I should never have thought of the enterprise at all.'

"The doctor admitted that he had spoken too hastily. 'That personal view
of the subject had, I confess, escaped me,' he said. 'However, let us
get back to the matter in hand. In the course of what I may term an
adventurous medical life, I have been brought more than once into
contact with the gentlemen of the law, and have had opportunities
of observing their proceedings in cases of, let us say, Domestic
Jurisprudence. I am quite sure I am correct in informing you that the
proof which will be required by Mr. Armadale's representatives will be
the evidence of a witness present at the marriage who can speak to the
identity of the bride and bridegroom from his own personal knowledge.'

"'But I have already told you,' I said, 'that there was no such person
present.'

"'Precisely,' rejoined the doctor. 'In that case, what you now want,
before you can safely stir a step in the matter, is--if you will pardon
me the expression--a ready-made witness, possessed of rare moral
and personal resources, who can be trusted to assume the necessary
character, and to make the necessary Declaration before a magistrate. Do
you know of any such person?' asked the doctor, throwing himself back in
his chair, and looking at me with the utmost innocence.

"'I only know you,' I said.

"The doctor laughed softly. 'So like a wom