His first call was at the registrar's office. The special license had been secured a week before.
"I can marry you at half-past two," said the registrar, "we like a day's notice, but in an exceptional case—"
Steppe paid.
The Mervilles had not gone in to lunch when he arrived. Beryl was in her room, the doctor working in his study. Steppe wondered what he was working at.
"I want to see Miss Merville—don't disturb the doctor."
She came down, a listless, hopeless girl. Intuitively she knew that he had been told. What would he do: she stopped at the door of her father's study, fighting her fear. Should she tell him first? In the end she came to Steppe.
"Well, Beryl. What is this I hear about Ronald Morelle and you, huh?"
"What have you heard?"
"That you've been his mistress—that's what I've heard. Damned fine news for a bridegroom, huh? Does your father know?"
She shook her head.