said with a faint smile in things spiritual or how much have we poor to learn of you i with a sigh he produced the required sum then paused and added no with your leave we will see the papers first you have them with yoa here they are answered the priest drawing some documents from his pocket but they haven t been married yet the rule is marry first then until the ceremony is actually performed anything might happen you know quite so father anything might happen either before or after but still with your leave i think that in this we may as well first you might want to be getting away and it will save so much trouble later will you be so kind as to write your father thomas hesitated while gently the gold in his hand and murmured i should be sorry to think father that you had taken such a rough journey for nothing what trick are you at now growled the well after all it is a mere form give me the gave them father thomas them adding some words and his own signature then tee bridegroom and the bride there you are that will hold good against anyone except the pope a mere form repeated of course but the world so much importance to forms so i think that we will have this one witnessed � no not by myself who am an interested party � by independent and calling and the waiting woman he bade them set their names at the foot of the documents papers signed in advance � paid in advance he went on handing over the money and now just one more glass to drink the health of the bride and bridegroom also in advance you will not refuse nor you worthy nor you most excellent ah i thought not the night is cold and the brandy strong muttered the priest thickly as this third dose of raw spirit took effect upon him now get on with the business for i want to be out of this hole before the flood comes quite so friends will you be so good as to summon my son and the lady the lady first i think � and all three of you might go to escort her sometimes consider it right to fain a slight reluctance � you understand on second thoughts you need not trouble the i have a few words of advice to offer so i will go to him a minute later father and son stood face to face leaped up he shook his fist he and at the cold man before him you fool you contemptible fool said when he had done heavens to think that such a creature should have sprung from me a human only fit to bear the blows and burdens of others to fill the field with empty and wear himself out by kicking at the air oh don t twist up your face at me for i am your master as well as your father however much you may me you are mine body and soul you understand a bond slave more you lost the only chance you ever had iii the game when you got me down at you t draw a sword on me again for your s sake dear for your b sake and if you dared t would run you through now are you coming no answered think a minute if you don t marry her i shall and before she is half an hour older also � and he for ward and whispered into his son s ear h you devil you devil gasped then he moved towards the door what changed your mind have you mr well it is the of all feminine but your is and allow me to suggest that you should brush your there that s better now come on no you go first if you please i d rather haye you in front of me when they reached the room below the bride was already there on either side by black and the other woman white as death and trembling but still defiant stood let s get through with this growled the priest i take the of the parties for granted i am not willing cried i have been brought here by force i call present to witness that whatever is done is against my will i appeal to god to help me the priest turned upon how am i to marry them in the face of this he asked if only she were silent it might be done the difficulty has occurred to me answered he made a sign whereon seized s wrists and black slipping behind her fastened a the bridegroom and the bride chief over her mouth in such fashion that she was but could still breathe through the nostrils struggled a little then was quiet and turned her piteous eyes on who stepped forward and opened his lips you remember the alternative said his father in a low voice and he stopped i suppose broke in father thomas we may at any rate reckon upon the consent or at least upon the silence of the bridegroom you may reckon on his silence father thomas replied then the ceremony began they dragged to the table thrice she flung herself to the ground thrice they lifted her to her feet but at length weary of the weight of her body suffered her to rest upon her knees where she remained as though in prayer like some victim on the it was a strange and brutal scene and every detail of it burned itself into s mind the round rude room with its glowing fire of and its rough furniture half in light and half in dense shadow as the lamp rays chanced to fall the death like kneeling bride with a white cloth across her tortured face the red hanging 