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Updated: June 27, 2025
Now this man was not Leon Dudleigh. He was an impostor. Edith did not even know that his name was Dudleigh at all. She had never asked him the secret of his life; he had never volunteered to tell it. She did not know what his name really was. As an impostor, she knew that he was liable to discovery, arrest, and punishment at any time. She knew that the discovery of this man would endanger herself.
"His last words to you?" said Dudleigh, in an inquiring tone. "Yes," said Edith, with a sigh. "The remembrance of that night is so distressing that I have never felt able to speak of it. Even the thought of what I suffered then almost drives me wild; but now and to you, Reginald it is different, and I have strength to speak of it."
Each knew that the other loved and was loved; but yet in the midst of this knowledge there was a feeling of utter helplessness arising from the unparalleled position of Edith. It was a peculiar and at the same time a perilous one. In the eyes of the world these two were nothing less than man and wife. In the eyes of the law, as Edith feared, she was the wife of Leon Dudleigh.
Sir Lionel spoke wildly and vehemently, in that tone of feverish excitement which marks a madman. It may have been the influence of his "keeper," or it may have been the dawnings of actual insanity. As for Lady Dudleigh, she did not lose one particle of her cold-bloodedness. She simply said, in the same tone, "How?" "How? Ha, ha! Do you think I'm going to tell you? That's my secret. But stop.
It was near the marriage notices. She looked there, and saw the following: "On the 12th instant, at the Dalton family chapel, by the Rev. John Mann, of Dalton, Captain Leon Dudleigh, to Edith, only daughter of the late Frederick Dalton, Enquire, of Dalton Hall." This paper was dated November 20, 1840. This was, as she knew, February 26, 1841.
Lady Dudleigh lived there in the old home of her childhood, and passed her time in works of charity. She made an effort to reclaim Leon, and succeeded in keeping him with her for a few weeks; but the quiet life soon proved intolerable, and he wandered away at length to other scenes. Reginald had dealt faithfully and even generously by him.
It had taken place within the family, and the stain on the Dalton name could thus be obliterated by merging it with that of Dudleigh. It seemed, therefore, wise and appropriate and politic, and the reserve of the married couple was generally considered as a mark of delicacy, good taste, and graceful respect for public opinion.
"Well, lieutenant," said Leon, "speak up. Come along. Tell her, if you like." "Lieutenant Dudleigh, save me." "Oh, great Heaven!" said a voice like that of the one whom Edith knew as Lieutenant Dudleigh "oh, great Heaven! it's too much." "Oh ho!" cried Leon: "so you're going to blubber too, are you? Mind, now, it's all right if you are only true."
"No, nothing. I merely came to make a proposal." "What is it?" asked Edith, languidly; for now there seemed no chance for any thing. "It is this," said Dudleigh. "I propose, if you will allow me, to go myself." "You!" exclaimed Edith, in great surprise. "Yes." "But can you obtain leave to go? You have to go abroad, won't you?" "Yes, of course." "But can you leave your regiment?" "Oh yes.
"May she not all this time have been trying to rescue me, and been baffled?" Dudleigh smiled. "Oh no. If she had tried at all you would have heard something about it before this; something would certainly have been done. The claim of Wiggins would have been contested in a court of law. Oh no; she has evidently done nothing.
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