, that's not like you, Beale," he said. "I thought you were too hot
on the scent to waste time."

"So I am," said the other, thrusting his hands deep into his pockets,
"that's just what I am." He turned suddenly to the older man. "Mr.
Kitson, I've got to know a little more about John Millinborn's will than
I know at present."

The lawyer looked up, fixed his glasses and regarded the younger man
with a troubled look.

"I'm sorry to jump in on you like this, but I'm rattled. I don't
understand much about the English law though I know that marriages
aren't as easy to make here in London as they are in our country. But
here as everywhere else it is fairly difficult to force a girl into
marriage against her will, and the marriage of course is not good in
law."

He sat down on the arm of a couch, dangling his hat between his legs,
and ran his fingers through his hair with a nervous little laugh.

"Here I'm telling you all that I came to ask you."

"Have a cup of tea," said Kitson, with a smile, "everybody in England
rushes to tea and I hope I shall get you in the habit."

Beale shook his head.

"You are right about the marriage," Kitson went on, "but I'll give you
the law on the subject. A marriage can only be solemnized if due notice
is given by the parties who must be resident in the district where it is
to take place--three weeks is the period of notice."

"Is there no other way?"

"Yes. By paying special fees and offering a good and sufficient reason a
faculty can be secured from the Archbishop of Canterbury, or rather from
his officials, authorizing a marriage without notice. It is called a
special licence, and the marriage may occur at any hour and at any
place."

"Is there a register of applications?" asked Beale quickly.

"I've thought of that," nodded the lawyer, "yes, I'm keeping that side
under observation. It is difficult because officialdom isn't as obliging
as it might be. My own view is that van Heerden will be married in the
ordinary way, that is to say by giving notice. To secure his special
licence he would be obliged to give his own name and be vouched for; he
can be married in the ordinary way even if he gives a false name, which
in all probability he will."

"Would the marriage be legal if it was in a false name?"

"Absolutely. In English law you may commit an offence by marrying in a
wrong name, but it would not invalidate the marriage."

Stanford Beale sat studying the pattern of the