"He was a Scotsman born," said Bonnithorne, taking another document from Drayton's hand. "See, this is his register. Odd, isn't it?"
Hugh Ritson's eyes flashed. He looked steadily into the face of the lawyer, then he took the paper.
The next moment he crushed it in his palm and flung it out of the window. "I shall want proof both of your facts and your law," he said.
"Eh, and welcome," said Drayton, shouting in his agitation. "Listen to this," and he proceeded to read.
"Wait! From whom?" asked Hugh Ritson. "Some pettifogger?"
"The solicitor-general," said Bonnithorne.
"Is that good enough?" asked Drayton, tauntingly.
"Go on," said Hugh, rapping the table with his finger-tips.
Drayton handed the letter to the lawyer. "Do you read it," he said; "I ain't flowery. I'm a gentleman, and—" He stopped suddenly and tramped the floor, while Bonnithorne read:
"If there is no reason to suppose the father lost his Scotch domicile, the son is legitimate. If the husband recognized his wife in registering his son's birth, the law of Scotland would presume that there was a marriage, but whether of ceremony or consent would be quite indifferent."