‘But Aimee is a Catholic?’

’That’s true! but you see I am not.  You don’t suppose I would do her any wrong, Roger?’ asked Osborne, sitting up in his lounging-chair, and speaking rather indignantly to Roger, his face suddenly flushing red.

’No!  I’m sure you would not mean it; but you see there’s a child coming, and this estate is entailed on “heirs male.”  Now, I want to know if the marriage is legal or not? and it seems to me it’s a ticklish question.’

‘Oh!’ said Osborne, falling back into repose, ’if that’s all, I suppose you’re next heir male, and I can trust you as I can myself.  You know my marriage is bona fide in intention, and I believe it to be legal in fact.  We went over to Strasbourg; Aimee picked up a friend—­a good middle-aged Frenchwoman—­who served half as bridesmaid, half as chaperone, and then we went before the mayor—­prefet—­what do you call them?  I think Morrison rather enjoyed the spree.  I signed all manner of papers in the prefecture; I did not read them over, for fear lest I could not sign them conscientiously.  It was the safest plan.  Aimee kept trembling so I thought she would faint, and then we went off to the nearest English chaplaincy, Carlsruhe, and the chaplain was away, so Morrison easily got the loan of the chapel, and we were married the next day.’

‘But surely some registration or certificate was necessary?’

’Morrison said he would undertake all those forms; and he ought to know his own business.’  I know I tipped him pretty well for the job.’

‘You must be married again,’ said Roger, after a pause, ’and that before the child is born.  Have you got a certificate of the marriage?’

’I dare say Morrison has got it somewhere.  But I believe I’m legally married according to the laws both of England and France; I really do, old fellow.  I’ve got the prefet’s papers somewhere.’

’Never mind! you shall be married again in England.  Aimee goes to the Roman Catholic chapel at Prestham, does not she?’

’Yes.  She is so good I would not disturb her in her religion for the world.’

’Then you shall be married both there and at the church of the parish in which she lives as well,’ said Roger, decidedly.

’It’s a great deal of trouble, unnecessary trouble, and unnecessary expense, I should say,’ said Osborne.  ’Why can’t you leave well alone?  Neither Aimee nor I are of the sort of stuff to turn scoundrels and deny the legality of our marriage, and if the child is a boy and my father dies, and I die, why I’m. sure you’ll do him justice, as sure as I am of myself, old fellow!’

’But if I die into the bargain?  Make a hecatomb of the present Hamleys all at once, while you are about it.  Who succeeds as heir male?’

Osborne thought for a moment.  ’One of the Irish Hamleys, I suppose.  I fancy they are needy chaps.  Perhaps you’re right.  But what need to have such gloomy forebodings?’