"But," Jeroloman began and paused. "But——" He paused again.
Comfortably Dunwoodie helped him. "Yes?"
"You say that marriages valid before and until the Laws of 1901 are, by virtue of a repeal, now valid again?"
"That is what I say, Jeroloman. Merely that and nothing more. In addition to the Ziegler case, let me commend to you 'The Raven.'"
"Let's get down to facts, sir. From your account of it, this alleged marriage never could have been valid."
Dunwoodie wiped his mouth. "Dear me! I had no idea that my account of it could lead to such interesting views. You do surprise me."
"Mr. Dunwoodie, you said the ceremony was performed by a gardener who pretended to be a clergyman. Those were your very words."
"Yaas. Let the cat out of the bag, didn't I?"
Archly but chillily Jeroloman smiled. "Well, no, I would not care to put it in that way, but your office-boy must know that false representations void it."
"Good Lord!" Dunwoodie exclaimed. It was as though he had been hit in the stomach.