iving in the past, but there was no use in beating about the bush and
he said as much.

"You are thinking of the common law, sir."

Absently Dunwoodie creased his towel. "Now you mention it, I believe I
am."

Jeroloman glanced at his watch. It was getting late. His residence was
five miles away. He was to dress, dine early and take his wife to the
theatre. He would have to hurry and he reached for his hat.

"The common law was abrogated long ago."

Dunwoodie rumpled the towel. "Why, so it was!"

Jeroloman took the hat and with a gloved finger rubbed at the brim.
"Even otherwise, the term common-law wife is not legally recognised. The
law looks with no favour on the connection indicated by it. The term is
synonymous for a woman who, having lived illicitly with a man, seeks to
assume the relationship of wife after his death and thereby share in the
proceeds of his property."

From under beetling brows, Dunwoodie looked at him. "Thanks for the
lecture, Jeroloman. My client has no such desire. In this office, an
hour ago, she refused them."

Jeroloman stood up. "Very sensible of her, I'm sure." He twirled the
hat. "Who is she?"

"I thought I told you. She is Mrs. Paliser."

Jeroloman waved that hat. "Well, well! I thought I told you. As it is,
if you will take the trouble to look at the laws of 1901, you will find
that common-law marriages are inhibited."

"Hum! Ha! And if you will trouble to look at the Laws of 1907, you will
find they are inhibited no longer."

Jeroloman stared. "I have yet to learn of it."

Dunwoodie repocketed his towel. "Is it possible? Then when the
opportunity occurs you might inform yourself. At the same time let me
recommend the Court of Appeals for March. You may find there additional
instruction. But I see you are going. Don't let me detain you."

Jeroloman sat down. "What case are you referring to?"

"The Matter of Ziegler."

Uncertainly Jeroloman's steel-blue eyes shifted. "It seems to me I read
the syllabus."

"Then your powers of concealment are admirable."

"But just what does it hold?"

"Can it be that you don't remember? Well, well!--to borrow your own
agreeable mode of expression--it holds that common-law marriages that
were valid before and until the enactments which you were good enough to
cite, were again made valid by their appeal in Chapter 742 of the Laws
of 1907."

"But," Jeroloman began and paused. "But----" He paused again.

Comfortably Dunwoodie helpe