. . . Won't you?" She held
out her hand.
With an angry exclamation, Carnac refused it, and then she suddenly
turned on her heel, slipped round a corner and was gone.
Carnac was dumbfounded. He did not know what to do. He went dazedly home,
and slept little that night. The next day he went out to Shipton and saw
Judge Grimshaw and told him the whole tale. The Judge shook his head.
"It's too tall a story. Why, you went through the ceremony as if it was
the real thing, signed the papers, paid my fee, and kissed the bride. You
could not get a divorce on such evidence. I'm sorry for you, if you don't
want the girl. She's very nice, and 'd make a good wife. What does she
mean to do?"
"I don't know. She left me in the street and went back to her home. I
won't live with her."
"I can't help you anyhow. She has the certificate. You are validly
married. If I were you, I'd let the matter stand."
So they parted, and Carnac sullenly went back to his apartments. The next
day he went to see a lawyer, however. The lawyer opened his eyes at the
story. He had never heard anything like it.
"It doesn't sound as if you were sober when you did it. Were you, sir? It
was a mad prank, anyhow!"
"I had been drinking, but I wasn't drunk.
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