"He thinks, perhaps,
he is free to make love to the other girl and marry--because of that
precious paper."

"He is not such a fool as that: I, even," said Dick, faltering, "know
law enough to warn him that would be folly. But you know, sir, in some
of the wild States, like the one he lived in, divorce is the easiest
thing in the world."

"Well: and he thinks he can get a divorce? He had better do it then
without more ado. I suppose the evidence--is sufficient?"

Dick gave vent to a hoarse, nervous laugh. "Sufficient--for twenty
divorces," he said, then he added quickly: "But that's not the
question."

"Why, what is the question then? He should be very thankful to be able
to manage it so easily instead of being dragged through the mud for
everybody to gloat over in London. What does the fellow want?" said the
old man peevishly. "Many a man would be glad to find so easy a way."

Dick's embarrassment was great, he changed colour, he could not keep
still, his voice grew husky and broken. "I don't say that I agree with
him, but this is what he thinks. It's easy enough: but he would have to
summon her by the newspapers to answer for herself, which she wouldn't
do. And who can tell what hands that newspaper might fall into? He says
that nobody knows anything about it here; no one has the slightest
suspicion that he ever was married or had any entanglement. And she,
poor soul, to do her justice, would never put forth a claim. She never
would molest him, of that he is sure. He thinks----"

"You take a great deal of interest in your friend's cause, Dick!" For
Dick had paused with parted lips, unable to say any more.

"I do. It's a case that has been very interesting to me. He asks why he
should take any notice of it at all--a thing done when he was scarcely of
age, thousands of miles away, a mistake--an utter failure--a--ah!"--Dick
had been speaking very rapidly against time to get out what he had to
say before he was interrupted--"you don't see it in that point of view."

"Do you mean to say, sir," said the old gentleman, "that you contemplate
betraying a woman by a fictitious marriage, making her children
illegitimate and herself a--I can't suppose that you have any real
intention of that."

Dick, who had got up in his excitement, here sat down suddenly as if his
strength had failed him, with an exclamation of horror and alarm.

"You don't see that? Why, what else would it be? so long as there is a
Mrs.--what do you