“I have no objections to explaining,” said the voice. “You're actually married to me. My name is not Mowbray. It's Leon Dudleigh, the individual that you just plighted your troth to. My small friend here is not _Leon_ Dudleigh, whatever other Dudleigh he may call himself. He is the witness.” “It's false!” cried Edith. “Lieutenant Dudleigh would never betray me.” “Well, at any rate,” said Leon, “I happen to be the happy man who alone can claim you as his bride.” “Villain!” shrieked Edith, in utter horror. “Cursed villain! Let go my hand. This is all mockery. Your wife!--I would die first.” “Indeed you won't,” said Leon--“not while you have me to love and to cherish you, in sickness and in health, till death us do part, and forsaking all others, keep only unto you, in the beautiful words of that interesting service.” “It's a lie! it's a lie!” cried Edith. “Oh, Lieutenant Dudleigh, I have trusted you implicitly, and I trust you yet. Come to me--save me!” And in her anguish Edith sank down upon her knees, and held out her arms imploringly. “Dudleigh!” she moaned. “Oh, my friend! Oh, only come--only save me from this villain, and I will love--I will love and bless you--I will be your menial--I will--” “Pooh!” said Leon, “I'm the only Dudleigh about. If you knew half as much about my _dear friend_ the lieutenant as I do, you would know what infernal nonsense you are talking;” and seizing her hand, he tried to raise her. “Come,” said he, “up with you.” Edith tried to loosen her hand, whereupon Leon dashed it away. “Who wants your hand?” he cried: “I'm your husband, not your lover.” “Lieutenant Dudleigh!” moaned Edith. “Well, lieutenant,” said Leon, “speak up. Come along. Tell her, if you like.” “Lieutenant Dudleigh, save me.” “Oh, great Heaven!” said a voice like that of the one whom Edith knew as Lieutenant Dudleigh--“oh, great Heaven! it's too much.” “Oh ho!” cried Leon: “so you're going to blubber too, are you? Mind, now, it's all right if you are only true.” “Oh, Leon, how you wring my heart!” cried the other, in a low, tremulous voice. “Lieutenant Dudleigh!” cried Edith again. “Oh, my friend, answer me! Tell me that it is all a lie. Tell me--” But Lieutenant Dudleigh flung himself on the stone pavement, and groaned and sobbed convulsively. “Come,” said Leon, stooping and lifting him up; “you understand all this. Don't you go on blubbering in this fashion. I don't mind her and _you_ mustn't. Come, you tell her, for she'll keep yelling after you all night till you do.” Lieutenant Dudleigh rose at this, and leaned heavily upon Leon's arm. “You were not--married--to--to--me,” said he at last. “What! Then you too were false all along!” said Edith, in a voice that seemed to come from a broken heart. The false friend made no reply.