Reaching Mrs. Montague's boudoir, he walked to the bay-window, and looked out upon the street. He was nervous and excited, and wished to regain his accustomed composure before going down stairs again.
He stood there a moment absorbed in unpleasant reflections, then turned to get his coat and hat.
As he did so, one of his feet caught in the heavy damask draperies, and in trying to disengage it, something crackled sharply beneath it, and he stooped to ascertain what it was.
Sweeping aside the heavy curtains, he saw a long, narrow document lying upon the floor beneath its folds.
He picked it up, and saw that it was a piece of parchment with something apparently printed upon it.
Not supposing it to be anything of importance, he mechanically unfolded it and began to read.
"Why, it is a marriage certificate!" he exclaimed, in surprise, under his breath.
Not caring to read the whole form, he simply glanced at the places where the names of the contracting parties were written, and instantly a mighty shock seemed to shake him from head to foot.
"Ha! what can this mean?" he exclaimed, in a breathless voice.
His face grew deathly pale. A blur came before his eyes. He rubbed them to dispel it, and looked again.