His startling news had more effect on his friend than Tom expected. For a moment Dick felt physically ill, and the dishes on the table whirled up and down.
“Here,” exclaimed Tom, startled by his white face. “Take some whisky, quick!” He poured out a liberal portion. “There, that will soon set you up.”
“Are you sure there is no mistake?” asked Dick, imploringly.
“Absolutely positive,” answered Tom, gravely. “Your brother and I both realize the scandal that must follow if the secret leaks out before Gordon is cleared of this monstrous charge. John gave me all the details known to him. The marriage was perfectly legal. He performed the ceremony, and Mrs. John Dundas and Arthur Vandergrift were the witnesses. The affair was kept absolutely quiet for personal reasons given by Mrs. Dundas. John wouldn’t, of course, tell me what they were, except to say that everything was open and above board.”
“Did he tell you anything else?”
“Only that the marriage took place at three o’clock in the afternoon. He gave me this copy of the marriage certificate for you.” He took the paper out of his notebook and handed it to Dick. The printed lines danced before the latter’s eyes as he studied them.
“Whichever way I look at it, Gordon’s guilt seems certain,” he said, finally.
But Tom shook his head in doubt. “I still don’t see where the motive comes in,” he argued. “Just because he married Beatrice in secret he didn’t have to kill her stepmother.”
“It happens that Gordon was an old lover of Mrs. Trevor’s,” answered Dick, shortly. “General Long says he was madly infatuated with her, and there’s a rumor they were married in London before she met Trevor.”
“Good Lord!” ejaculated Tom, in open-eyed amazement. “Do you mean that Gordon intentionally or unintentionally committed bigamy?”