"So I did, so I did," cried the priest, with a jolly laugh; "but, upon my life, you must tell me something more; first, about her being under age. That is the devil, as you have not got any guardian's consent."
"Nay," replied Smeaton. "There you are mistaken, my reverend friend. Have the goodness to look at that."
As he spoke, he put into the clergyman's hand a sheet of paper, on which were written two or three lines, in a fine bold style.
"Ha! What is here?" ejaculated the parson. "Then this is her lawful guardian, is it?"
"I am ready to swear it," replied Smeaton; "and our good friend here, whom you know, will testify--"
"Oh, I'll testify anything you like," interrupted Van Noost, drinking off his punch and holding out his glass. "There, parson, give me some more, and don't let us have any further objections, there's a worthy divine. You know you will come to it in the end. We'll find means to melt you."
"But suppose I do not come to it?" asked Doctor Thickett, looking at Smeaton. "What will you do then?"
"I have simply one alternative," replied Smeaton gravely. "If you refuse, I shall go back to Ale, and, authorised as you see by this paper, take the lady to France with me this very night, as soon as the moon rises."
"What, unmarried!" exclaimed the priest, with an affected look of horror. "That cannot be; that cannot be. I must marry you, by Jove, to prevent scandal."
"Exactly," replied Smeaton, with a smile. "That is in reality my object. We can be married as soon as we reach Nancy; but I think, on every account, it would be better that the ceremony should be performed before we set out."