Valentine surrendered his staff, descended from the tribune, and went straight home. He went quite alone. Not a soul accompanied him.
When he got home, pretty Michal could read from his face that misfortune had overtaken him.
"It's all up. We are betrayed and openly accused."
Pretty Michal was not dismayed by this intelligence, she was prepared for it.
"I only ask one thing of you," said she to Valentine, "and as you love me, you must grant it. Our sole defense is that Henry Catsrider, when he married me, gave himself out to my father as a different person from what he really was. That is an impediment which nullifies the marriage. We might, therefore, defend ourselves by contending that I was not his true and lawful wife, that he married me under false pretenses, and kept me in his house by force. I pray and beseech you not to offer any such defense. My poor father knows not what has befallen me, and I wish him never to know it."
"But I have a mother."
"Her heart will break for your sake. I know it. But then she will live forever among the choirs of angels. She has nothing to reproach herself with. Her inward monitor does not accuse her. But it is my father's own fault that I came into this terrible situation. If he ever learns that he is the sole cause of all this sorrow and shame, it will not only be the death of him, but it will make him lose his hopes of heaven."
Valentine kissed his pretty Michal.
"You are right. We will not defend ourselves."
At that moment worthy Simplex appeared.