see, Miss
Arminster isn't quite what she seems."

"If you're going to say anything against that young lady--!" began his
Lordship angrily.

"You forget," said his son, "I wanted to marry her."

His father remembered; and remembering, said:

"Proceed."

"Well, I found out, for myself I mean, that Miss Arminster had been
married a number of times."

"A number of times!"

"Half a dozen at least. Perhaps more."

"Impossible!"

"She admitted as much to me."

"But surely--!"

"As far as I know, none of her husbands has died."

"In America," began the Bishop, "the divorce laws are lax, and
perhaps--"

"Oh, no, I'm sure she hasn't been divorced. I don't think she'd approve
of it."

"But then--it means--"

"Yes, that's just the point. And so another marriage with this Mr.
Spotts--"

"Must be stopped at all costs!" cried his Lordship, growing very red in
the face with agitation.

"I thought you'd feel so," said his son. "And that's why I ventured--"

At this moment Miss Matilda entered the room.

"What are you talking about, Josephus?" she demanded, assuming a
domination of which she felt by no means sure. "Did I hear you mention
that hussy's name?"

"I was speaking," said the Bishop, "of _Miss Arminster_. Cecil tells me
she's to marry Mr. Spotts."

"That's impossible," snapped Miss Matilda.

"What do you mean?" asked her brother.

"I mean what I say. While you were shamelessly gallivanting down the
Channel, I went over to the little church near the ruined abbey which
you visited the day you met Mr. Marchmont, and there I found a record of
the marriage, in 1895, of this _person_ who calls herself _Miss_
Arminster, and I say she can't marry Mr. Spotts."

"Why not?"

"Because she's married to him already!"

CHAPTER VII.

IN WHICH MISS ARMINSTER VERIFIES THE PROVERB.

The Bishop was pacing his garden. He was far from happy. It is true he
had not been worsted in his encounter with his sister. There had been a
drawn battle, and he had retired with dignity, conceding nothing but
that he would ask Miss Arminster to come to his study at noon and
explain her position. He could not believe the charges against the
charming Violet, but nevertheless he felt decidedly uncomfortable: for
even if she cleared herself, she was still married, and the palace
lacked a mistress.

It was easy to say that Miss Matilda should be deposed, but who should
take her place? Not another man's wife, certainly.