“Marriage, without loss of time—marriage, before your disaster reaches the ears of the Black Baronet.”
“Yes, but there is a difficulty. If the venerable old nobleman should hear of it, he'd let the cat out of the bag, and leave me in the lurch, in addition to the penalty of a three hours' lecture upon honor. Everything, however, is admirably arranged quoad the marriage. We have got a special license for the purpose of meeting our peculiar case, so that the marriage can be private; that is to say, can take place in the lady's own house. Do you think though, that M'Bride has actually destroyed the papers?”
“The drunken ruffian! certainly. He gave me great insolence a couple of days ago.”
“Why so?”
“Because I didn't hand him over a hundred pounds for his journey and the theft of the registry.”
“And how much did you give him, pray?”
“A fifty pound note, after having paid his expenses, which was quite enough for him. However, as I did not wish to make the scoundrel our enemy, I have promised him something more, so that I've come on good terms with him again. He is a slippery customer.”
“Did you get the bills cashed yet?”
“No, my lord; I am going about it now; but I tell you beforehand, that I will have some difficulty in doing it. I hope to manage it, however; and for that reason I must bid you good-by.”
“The first thing to do, then, is to settle that ugly business about the mare. By no means must we let it come to trial.”