The feelings of Stanley on looking at the marriage register were difficult to describe. In the first shock of the discovery his brain whirled. The mystery had become a maze, and he felt the imperative need of a solution of the subject to steady his mind. Accordingly, he had that evening a fixed purpose in view, which dominated all matters of the moment; and though at dinner he talked about something, he knew not what, during the greater part of the meal his eyes and thoughts were almost continually on the amiable blundering, little old pastor, whom he had marked out as his prey. When the ladies left the table, and the men adjourned to the smoking-room, he never lost sight of him; but the dominie, as if warned by some instinct, contrived to slip out of the Secretary's grasp, to elude him in corners, and, smiling, vanquish him in every attempt at an interview. At last, however, the opportunity came--a move was made to the drawing-room. In a fatal moment, the parson lingered for one last whiff of his half-smoked and regretfully relinquished cigar, and the Secretary saw, with a sigh of relief, the last coat-tail vanish through the door, which he softly closed. The click of the latch brought the Reverend Reginald back to the present with an uncomfortable start. "Oh," he cried, tumbling out of his chair, "I didn't see the others had got away so quickly. Very kind of you to wait for me, I'm sure--very--we must lose no time in joining the ladies, must we, eh?" "Only a little, a very little time, Mr. Lambert," replied the Secretary, leaning squarely against the closed door, which formed the sole exit from the room. "Just long enough to ask you one question." "Really, I'm sure," said the little man, becoming flustered. "Another time perhaps-- I should have the greatest pleasure----" "You have, I know, performed the marriage ceremony in the last few days," began Stanley calmly. "To be sure--yes, certainly--but this--permit me to suggest, is hardly the place to discuss my parochial duties." "Of course anyone married from this house would have to be married by you." "I'm in charge of this living, Mr. Stanley, there is no one else." "I know that, and also that your nearest colleague--excuse me if I use a professional term--is some distance off." "Fifteen miles. And now that I've answered all of your questions, let us waste no more time before joining the ladies." "Excuse me, Mr. Lambert, but I've not as yet asked you a question. I've made a number of statements, and you've furnished me with a good deal of gratuitous information, for which I'm deeply obliged. We now come to the pith of the whole matter, which is simply this. Did you, or did you not, marry Lady Isabelle McLane to Lieutenant Kingsland?" "What! The lady to whom you're engaged?" "Could I be engaged to a married woman, Mr. Lambert?"