He sat down in his wooden arm-chair, and, with his elbow on the table, knitted his bushy eyebrows, frowned and shook his great forefinger in his visitor's face. "Your lordship is married," he repeated. "Of that have no doubt; no doubt whatever is possible. Tell your lawyer all; refer him to me." "The story," said Lord Chudleigh, "is this. I come here, out of curiosity, to see you--a man of whom I had heard much, though little to your credit. I am received by you with courtesy and hospitality. There is much drinking, and I (for which I have no defence to offer) drink too much. I awake in the morning still half unconscious. I am taken downstairs by you, and married, while in that condition, to some woman I had never before seen. After this I am again put to bed. When I awake, I am informed by you what has taken place." "That is a story neatly told," said the Doctor. "If I had to tell it, however, the details would assume another complexion. What brought your lordship to spend the night in such a place as the Liberties of the Fleet? A common parson of the Fleet? Nay, that is improbable; my modesty forbids me to believe so incredible a circumstance. But we may suppose an appointment for the morning; an appointment made and kept; a secret marriage----" "Would you dare to tell such a story as that?" Lord Chudleigh interrupted the Doctor with vehemence. "Would you dare, sir, to hint that I, Lord Chudleigh, had designed a Fleet marriage?" "My lord, where a member of your family, where your father's son is concerned, I dare a great deal, I assure you." "And the woman--who is she? Produce me this wretch, this creature who became an accomplice in the plot." "All in good time. Be assured, my lord, that we shall produce her in good time--at the right time. Also, be resigned to the inevitable. Nothing can unmarry you now." "I think," said his lordship, "that thou art the greatest villain in England."