"Why, you're married, that's all. You ought to know that by this time."
"Away!" cried Edith, with a sharp cry. "Who are you? Dudleigh! Dudleigh! where are you? Will you not help me?"
"That's not very likely," said the same voice, in a mocking tone. "His business is to help _me_."
"Oh, my God! what is the meaning of this?"
"Oh, it's simple enough. It means that you're my wife."
"_Your_ wife! Oh, Dudleigh: oh, my friend! what does all this mean? Why do you not speak?"
"I have no objections to explaining," said the voice. "You're actually married to me. My name is not Mowbray. It's Leon Dudleigh, the individual that you just plighted your troth to. My small friend here is not _Leon_ Dudleigh, whatever other Dudleigh he may call himself. He is the witness."
"It's false!" cried Edith. "Lieutenant Dudleigh would never betray me."
"Well, at any rate," said Leon, "I happen to be the happy man who alone can claim you as his bride."
"Villain!" shrieked Edith, in utter horror. "Cursed villain! Let go my hand. This is all mockery. Your wife!--I would die first."
"Indeed you won't," said Leon--"not while you have me to love and to cherish you, in sickness and in health, till death us do part, and forsaking all others, keep only unto you, in the beautiful words of that interesting service."
"It's a lie! it's a lie!" cried Edith. "Oh, Lieutenant Dudleigh, I have trusted you implicitly, and I trust you yet. Come to me--save me!"
And in her anguish Edith sank down upon her knees, and held out her arms imploringly.
"Dudleigh!" she moaned. "Oh, my friend! Oh, only come--only save me from this villain, and I will love--I will love and bless you--I will be your menial--I will--"
"Pooh!" said Leon, "I'm the only Dudleigh about. If you knew half as much about my _dear friend_ the lieutenant as I do, you would know what infernal nonsense you are talking;" and seizing her hand, he tried to raise her. "Come," said he, "up with you."
Edith tried to loosen her hand, whereupon Leon dashed it away.
"Who wants your hand?" he cried: "I'm your husband, not your lover."
"Well, lieutenant," said Leon, "speak up. Come along. Tell her, if you like."
"Oh, great Heaven!" said a voice like that of the one whom Edith knew as Lieutenant Dudleigh--"oh, great Heaven! it's too much."