London (England) -- Fiction; Man-woman relationships -- Fiction; Women -- Fiction
"Samson doesn’t know, as it happens; but if he did of course he’d
agree."
She might have refused to go. But could she refuse to go and be
married--she, the bearer of his child? She perceived that he had been
too clever for her, had trapped her, in his determination to regularize
her situation at the earliest possible moment. She forced a timid smile
and covered him up for the journey.
The lift-boy smiled a welcome to him. The concierge was the very symbol
of attentive deference, and in the carriage enveloped Lilian’s feet with
the rug as though they had been two precious jewels--as they were. The
manager himself made a majestic appearance, and shot out congratulations
like stars from a Roman candle. And the weather was supremely gorgeous.
At the _mairie_ waited the _avoué_ and his clerk, who were to act as
witnesses. The _avoué_ and Felix talked to dirty and splendid
officials; Felix and Lilian signed papers.
"Now _you_’ve only got one thing to do," said Felix. "When I nudge you,
say, ’_Oui, monsieur le maire_.’"
They were inducted into the sanctuary of celebration, and Lilian saw a
fat gentleman wearing the French national flag for a waistband. It
would have been very comical had it not been so impressive. The ceremony
started, Lilian understanding not a word. Felix nudged her. She
murmured: "_Oui, monsieur le maire_." ... The ceremony closed.
Immediately afterwards Felix handed her a sort of little tract in a
yellowish-brown cover.
"You’re married now, and if anybody says you aren’t, show ’em this."
The _avoué_ was tremendous with bows and smiles. They drove back to the
hotel. They were in the bedroom. Lilian took Felix apprehensively by
the shoulders.
"Oh, darling. You’re sure it hasn’t done you any harm?"
"And that’s not quite all. There’s my will," said he. "Ring the bell."
He spoke to Jacqueline, who after a few minutes brought in an English
valet and an English lady’s maid. Felix was set upon having his will
witnessed by people with English addresses. He silently gave Lilian the
will to read. He had written it himself. In three lines it bestowed
upon her all that was his. Not a syllable about his sister. Well, that
was quite right, because Miss Grig had means of her own. Sitting in the
easy chair, with a blotting-pad on his knees, Felix signed the will.
Then the valet and the lady’s maid signed, with much constraint and
flourish. Felix gave them fifty francs apiece, and dismissed them.
"Put that with your marriage certificate," he said to Lilian, folding up
the will and offering it to her. "I think I’ll get back to bed.
Exhausting work, being married!" He laughed shortly. "I’m going to
sleep," he said later, after he had eaten and drunk. "You be off
downstairs and have your lunch."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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