"I might have done it, but I saw in this, my secret power, the means of winning you. Edgar, it is not too late even now. Make me mistress of Crown Anstey, and I will find the means of restoring your lost position to you." I turned from her in unutterable loathing. She was so lost to all womanly honor and delicacy, my whole soul revolted against her. "Not another word, Coralie. I would not take Crown Anstey from you if the alternative were death!" "That is very decisive," she replied, with the mocking smile I dreaded. "We shall see." "You will keep your word to me?" I cried, hastily. "You will say nothing to Clare? She will soon be well. I could not bear to have any obstacles thrown in the way of her recovery. When I leave her, my friends will make some arrangements to spare her the shock of knowing why--at least, for a time." "I shall respect your wishes, Edgar. I have no desire to hurt your sister. She is quite safe, so far as I am concerned." It may be imagined that I did not sleep very well that night. Early on the following morning Sir John rode over. "The sooner we look into this affair the better," he said. "We will ride over to Edgerton today and examine the church register." We did so. Alas! there was no mistake; the marriage had been celebrated on the 14th of June. The two witnesses, as she said, were Sarah Smith and Arthur Ireton. The marriage service had been performed by the Reverend Henry Morton. The entry was perfectly regular, no flaw in it. Sir John's face fell as he read it. "Now," he said, "the marriage laws in England are very strict; there is no evading them. If this marriage is perfectly legal we shall find an entry of it in the registrar's books. We must pay for a copy of the certificate." We went to the registrar's office. There, sure enough, was the entry, all perfectly legal and straightforward. "Now," said Sir John, "before we rest let us find out the Reverend Henry Morton, and see what he knows about it." That involved a journey to Leamington, where he was then residing. We found him without difficulty. He remembered the marriage, and had no hesitation in answering any questions about it. He knew Miles Trevelyan, and had remonstrated with him over the marriage. But what could he do? Miles was of full age, and told him frankly that if he refused to marry him someone else would. "I have been ill and occupied," he said, "and have heard nothing of the Trevelyans since I left Edgerton. However, if my evidence and solemn assurance are of any service, you have them. They were properly and legally married; nothing in the world can upset that fact." "So it seems," said Sir John, with a deep sigh, "Edgar, you have lost Crown Anstey."