ardships. If you will do as I propose, you had better send out an
agent. On paying us the money he shall not only have the
marriage-certificate, but shall stand by and see me married to
Crinkett, who is now a widower. After that, of course, I can make no
claim to you. If you will not do this, both I and Crinkett, and the
other man who was present at our marriage, and Anne Young, who has
been with me ever since, will go at once to England, and the law
must take its course.

'I have no scruple in demanding this as you owe me so much more.

'Allan, the Wesleyan who married us, has gone out of the colony, no
one knows where,--but I send you the copy of the certificate; and
all the four of us who were there are still together. And there were
others who were at Ahalala at the time, and who remember the
marriage well. Dick Shand was not in the chapel, but Dick knew all
about it. There is quite plenty of evidence.

'Send back by the wire word what you will do, and let your agent
come over as soon as possible.

'EUPHEMIA CALDIGATE.'

However true or however false the allegations made in the above letter
may have been, for a time it stunned him greatly. This letter reached
him about a month before the birth of his son, and for a day or two it
disturbed him greatly. He did not show it to his wife, but wandered
about the place alone thinking whether he would take any notice of it,
and what notice. At last he resolved that he would take the letter to
his brother-in-law Robert, and ask the attorney's advice. 'How much of
it is true?' demanded Robert, when he read the letter twice from
beginning to end.

'A good deal,' said Caldigate,--'as much as may be, with the exception
that I was never married to the woman.'

'I suppose not that.' Robert Bolton as he spoke was very grave, but did
not at first seem disposed to be angry. 'Had you not better tell me
everything, do you think?'

'It is for that purpose that I have come and brought you the letter. You
understand about the money.'

'I suppose so.'

'There can be no reason why I should return a penny of it?'

'Certainly not, now. You certainly must not return it under a
threat,--even though the woman should be starving. There can be no
circumstances--' and as he spoke he dashed his hand down upon the
table,--'no circumstances in which a man should allow money to be
extorted from him by a threat. For Heste