The Scotsman looked at him keenly, and wondered how much he could charge him.
"Maybe you are in trouble?" he said.
"No," replied Paul; "I'm not in trouble. I only want information concerning a matter of Scotch law."
"And there's no man north of the Tweed that knows more about Scotch law." And the old lawyer stroked his chin thoughtfully. "But what phase of Scotch law are ye interested in?"
"Scotch marriage."
"Maybe you're thinking of getting wed? If ye are, take the advice of a man who has had to do with hundreds of weddings, and don't! If there's one thing for which I'm thankful to Providence, it is that I've always been strong enough to resist the lasses. Trouble came with the coming of a woman into the world, and they have been at the heart of nine-tenths of it ever since."
"No doubt your advice may be very wise," said Paul, "but it's not of that I'm thinking now. The question with me is what makes a Scotch marriage?"
"Nay, nay, man, don't try and sail as near to the rocks as ye can. If ye are going to wed, have the matter done publicly and openly."
"I'm not going to wed," said Paul. "But this is what I want to know: what is a Scotch marriage?"
"For the life of me, I can't tell you," he replied. "But ye have some case in your mind, I see. Tell it."