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the men employed on board the yacht in which Armadale had sailed
from Somersetshire （before my marriage） were now away in ships
voyaging to the other end of the worldhis confidence in my
prospects showed itself plainly in his face。 'So far as I can
see；' he said； 'your husband's claim to you （after you have
stepped into the place of the dead Mr。 Armadale's widow） would
rest on nothing but his own bare assertion。 And _that_ I think
you may safely set at defiance。 Excuse my apparent distrust of
the gentleman。 But there might be a misunderstanding between you
in the future； and it is highly desirable to ascertain beforehand
exactly what he could or could not do under those circumstances。
And now that we have done with the main obstacle that _I_ see in
the way of your success； let us by all means come to the obstacle
that _you_ see next！'
〃I was willing enough to come to it。 The tone in which he spoke
of Midwinter； though I myself was responsible for it； jarred on
me horribly； and roused for the moment some of the old folly of
feeling which I fancied I had laid asleep forever。 I rushed at
the chance of changing the subject； and mentioned the discrepancy
in the register between the hand in which Midwinter had signed
the name of Allan Armadale； and the hand in which Armadale of
Thorpe Ambrose had been accustomed to write his name； with an
eagerness which it quite diverted the doctor to see。
〃 'Is _that_ all？' he asked； to my infinite surprise and relief；
when I had done。 'My dear lady； pray set your mind at ease！ If
the late Mr。 Armadale's lawyers want a proof of your marriage；
they won't go to the church…register for it； I can promise you！'
〃 'What！' I exclaimed； in astonishment。 'Do you mean to say that
the entry in the register is not a proof of my marriage？'
〃 'It is a proof；' said the doctor； 'that you have been married
to somebody。 But it is no proof that you have been married to Mr。
Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose。 Jack Nokes or Tom Styles （excuse the
homeliness of the illustration！） might have got the license； and
gone to the church to be married to you under Mr。 Armadale's
name； and the register （how could it do otherwise？） must in that
case have innocently assisted the deception。 I see I surprise
you。 My dear madam； when you opened this interesting business you
surprised _me_I may own it nowby laying so much stress on the
curious similarity between the two names。 You might have entered
on the very daring and romantic enterprise in which you are now
engaged； without necessarily marrying your present husband。 Any
other man would have done just as well； provided he was willing
to take Mr。 Armadale's name for the purpose。'
〃I felt my temper going at this。 'Any other man would _not_ have
done just as well；' I rejoined； instantly。 'But for the
similarity of the names； I should never have thought of the
enterprise at all。'
〃The doctor admitted that he had spoken too hastily。 'That
personal view of the subject had； I confess； escaped me；' he
said。 'However； let us get back to the matter in hand。 In the
course of what I may term an adventurous medical life； I have
been brought more than once into contact with the gentlemen of
the law； and have had opportunities of observing their
proceedings in cases of； let us say； Domestic Jurisprudence。 I am
quite sure I am correct in informing you that the proof which
will be required by Mr。 Armadale's representatives will be the
evidence of a witness present at the marriage who can speak to
the identity of the bride and bridegroom from his own personal
knowledge。'
〃 'But I have already told you；' I said； 'that there was no such
person present。'
〃 'Precisely；' rejoined the doctor。 'In that case； what you now
want； before you can safely stir a step in the matter； isif you
will pardon me the expressiona ready…made witness； possessed of
rare moral and personal resources； who can be trusted to assume
the necessary character； and to make the necessary Declaration
before a magistrate。 Do you know of any such person？' asked the
doctor； throwing himself back in his chair； and looking at me
with the utmost innocence。
〃 'I only know You；' I said。
〃The doctor laughed softly。 'So like a woman！' he remarked； with
the most exasperating good humor。 'The moment she sees her
object； she dashes at it headlong the nearest way。 Oh； the sex！
the sex！'
〃 'Never mind the sex！' I broke out； impatiently。 'I want a
serious answerYes or No？'
〃The doctor rose； and waved his hand with great gravity and
dignity all round the room。 'You see this vast establishment；' he
began； 'you can possibly estimate to some extent the immense
stake I have in its prosperity and success。 Your excellent
natural sense will tell you that the Principal of this Sanitarium
must
be a man of the most unblemished character'
〃 'Why waste so many words；' I said； 'when one word will do？ You
mean No！'
〃The Principal of the Sanitarium suddenly relapsed into the
character of my confidential friend。
〃 'My dear lady；' he said； 'it isn't Yes； and it isn't No； at a
moment's notice。 Give me till to…morrow afternoon。 By that time I
engage to be ready to do one of two thingseither to withdraw
myself from this business at once； or to go into it with you
heart and soul。 Do you agree to that？ Very good； we may drop the
subject； then； till to…morrow。 Where can I call on you when I
have decided what to do？'
〃There was no objection to my trusting him with my address at the
hotel。 I had taken care to present myself there as 'Mrs。
Armadale'； and I had given Midwinter an address at the
neighboring post…office to write to when he answered my letters。
We settled the hour at which the doctor was to call on me； and；
that matter arranged； I rose to go； resisting all offers of
refreshment； and all proposals to show me over the house。 His
smooth persistence in keeping up appearances after we had
thoroughly understood each other disgusted me。 I got away from
him as soon as I could； and came back to my diary and my own
room。
〃We shall see how it ends to…morrow。 My own idea is that my
confidential friend will say Yes。
〃November 24th。The doctor has said Yes； as I supposed； but on
terms which I never anticipated。 The condition on which I have
secured his services amounts to nothing less than the payment to
him； on my stepping into the place of Armadale's widow； of half
my first year's incomein other words； six hundred pounds！
〃I protested against this extortionate demand in every way I
could think of。 All to no purpose。 The doctor met me with the
most engaging frankness。 Nothing； he said； but the accidental
embarrassment of his position at the present time would have
induced him to mix himself up in the matter at all。 He would
honestly confess that he had exhausted his own resources； and the
resources of other persons whom he described as his 'backers；' in
the purchase and completion of the Sanitarium。 Under those
circumstances； six hundred pounds in prospect was an object to
him。 For that sum he would run the serious risk of advising and
assisting me。 Not a farthing less would tempt him； and there he
left it； with his best and fr