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"I had to tell you in spite of yourself, and it is true. It is true. Ask Lady Linden of Cornbridge; she knows. She believes to this day that Joan Meredyth and Alston were married, and they never were. I have searched the registers at Marlbury and " "Will you go? You seem to have been hurt. You have probably carried this lying story elsewhere and have received what you merited.
Here William Mills strolled on and on, till he reached the top of Marlbury Downs, a spot he had not visited at this hour of the night during the whole score-and-odd years. He placed himself, as nearly as he could guess, on the spot where the shepherd's hut had stood. No lambing was in progress there now, and the old shepherd who had used him so roughly had ceased from his labours that very day.
"Do you remember you used to come to Marlbury to see me when I was at school at Miss Skinner's?" "Rather!" "That was three years ago. Supposing you married about then?" "Fine," Hugh said. "I married three years ago. What month?" "June," she said; "it's a lovely month!" "I was married in June, nineteen hundred and eighteen, my lady," said Hugh. "Where at, though?" "Why, Marlbury, of course!"
"I am here for money, and I want it, and mean to have it five thousand this time!" "I shall not pay you!" "Oh, you won't you won't! Then I go to Buddesby. I'll have a little chat there. I'll tell them a few things about Marlbury and about a trip to Australia that did not come off, and about a marriage that never took place.
Neither at Marlbury, nor at Morchester had any marriage been registered in the name of Hugh Alston and Joan Meredyth in the year nineteen eighteen; and having discovered that fact beyond doubt, Philip Slotman took train for London. A fortnight had passed since Johnny Everard's first visit to Starden, and during that time he had been again and yet again.
Nobody to speak of has written, and nobody has called. 'Ah what then? You look concerned. 'Old times have come to life, owing to something waking them. 'Old times be cursed which old times are they? 'That Christmas week twenty-two years ago, when the late Duchess's cousin Frederick implored her to meet him on Marlbury Downs.
They were married, if you want to know and I don't see why it should any longer be kept a secret three years ago, in June, nineteen eighteen at Marlbury, Dorset, where my niece was at school with Miss Meredyth. Now you know all I know, and if you want any further information, apply to the husband." "But but," Slotman said, "I " He was thinking.
'The oldest man the old shepherd. 'Dead at last how old is he? 'Ninety-four. 'And I am only seventy. I have four-and-twenty years to the good! 'I served under that old man when I kept sheep on Marlbury Downs. And he was on the hill that second night, when I first exchanged words with your Grace. He was on the hill all the time; but I did not know he was there nor did you.
Coming back I heard that he wished to see the Vicar to confess to him a secret he had kept for more than twenty years "out of respect to my Lord the Duke" something that he had seen committed on Marlbury Downs when returning to the flock on a December night twenty-two years ago. I have thought it over.
What I was looking for at Marlbury and Morchester and did not find was evidence of a marriage having taken place in June, nineteen eighteen, between Hugh Alston and Joan Meredyth. But there's no such evidence, none! Ah, that touches you a bit, don't it? Now you begin to understand why I ain't taken in by your fine dignity!"
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