At the same moment the
sound of a closing gate caught her ear. She looked round. Launce had
kept his appointment before his time. Launce was in the garden, rapidly
approaching them.
"Now for the Law of Clandestine Marriage!" said Lady Winwood. "Mr.
Linzie, we will take it sitting." She led the way to one of the benches
in the garden, and placed Launce between Natalie and herself. "Well,
Chief Conspirator, have you got the License? No? Does it cost too much?
Can I lend you the money?"
"It costs perjury, Lady Winwood, in my case," said Launce. "Natalie is
not of age. I can only get a License by taking my oath that I marry her
with her father's consent." He turned piteously to Natalie. "I couldn't
very well do that," he said, in the tone of a man who feels bound to
make an apology, "could I?" Natalie shuddered; Lady Winwood shrugged her
shoulders.
"In your place a woman wouldn't have hesitated," her ladyship remarked.
"But men are so selfish. Well! I suppose there is some other way?"
"Yes, there is another way," said Launce.
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