Part 3 (1/2)
”Abroad.”
”How long was it before the date of your marriage?”
”Six weeks before I was married.”
Referring perpetually to the paper in his hand, Mr. Delamayn was especially careful in comparing that last answer with the answer given to the head-clerk.
”Quite right,” he said, and went on with his questions.
”The priest who married you was one Ambrose Redman--a young man recently appointed to his clerical duties?”
”Yes.”
”Did he ask if you were both Roman Catholics?”
”Yes.”
”Did he ask any thing more?”
”No.”
”Are you sure he never inquired whether you had both been Catholics _for more than one year before you came to him to be married?_”
”I am certain of it.”
”He must have forgotten that part of his duty--or being only a beginner, he may well have been ignorant of it altogether. Did neither you nor the lady think of informing him on the point?”
”Neither I nor the lady knew there was any necessity for informing him.”
Mr. Delamayn folded up the ma.n.u.script, and put it back in his pocket.
”Right,” he said, ”in every particular.”
Mr. Vanborough's swarthy complexion slowly turned pale. He cast one furtive glance at Mr. Kendrew, and turned away again.
”Well,” he said to the lawyer, ”now for your opinion! What is the law?”
”The law,” answered Mr. Delamayn, ”is beyond all doubt or dispute. Your marriage with Miss Anne Silvester is no marriage at all.”
Mr. Kendrew started to his feet.
”What do you mean?” he asked, sternly.
The rising solicitor lifted his eyebrows in polite surprise. If Mr.
Kendrew wanted information, why should Mr. Kendrew ask for it in that way? ”Do you wish me to go into the law of the case?” he inquired.
”I do.”
Mr. Delamayn stated the law, as that law still stands--to the disgrace of the English Legislature and the English Nation.
”By the Irish Statute of George the Second,” he said, ”every marriage celebrated by a Popish priest between two Protestants, or between a Papist and any person who has been a Protestant within twelve months before the marriage, is declared null and void. And by two other Acts of the same reign such a celebration of marriage is made a felony on the part of the priest. The clergy in Ireland of other religious denominations have been relieved from this law. But it still remains in force so far as the Roman Catholic priesthood is concerned.”