"Of course that is your right, sir," said the magistrate.
Alden Lytton arose and confronted the witness, looking him full in the face.
"You are a minister of the gospel, I believe, Mr. Borden?" he inquired.
"Yes, sir. I am rector of Saint Blank's Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, as you yourself know very well, having there received my ministry on the day that you then declared to be 'the happiest of your life,'" replied the minister.
"As Heaven is my witness, I never saw your face before I met you in this office! Now then, reverend sir, please to look me in the eyes while you answer my next questions. Being upon your oath, you declare that on a certain day, in the month of last September, in your parish church, in the city of Philadelphia, you performed the marriage ceremony between Alden Lytton and Mary Grey?"
"I do most solemnly declare, upon my sacred oath, that I did so," answered Mr. Borden, meeting the searching gaze of the questioner without flinching.
"This is the most astounding effrontery! But attend further, sir, if you please. Being on your oath, you declare that I am the man and that female is the woman whom you joined in marriage, under the names of Alden Lytton and Mary Grey?"
"[On] my sacred oath I most solemnly declare that you are the man and she is the woman I then and there united together," unflinchingly replied the minister.
For a moment Alden Lytton was mute with amazement; and then he said:
"Let me look at that paper that is said to be a certificate of this marriage."