Carelessly Jeroloman surveyed him. He was certainly senile, yet, because
of his laurels, entitled to all the honours of war.
"Look here, Mr. Dunwoodie. You are not by any chance serious, are you?"
"Oh, I'm looking. While I was about it, I looked into the case. Per
verba de praesenti, my client consented to be young Paliser's wife. Now
she is his widow."
Jeroloman weighed it. The weighing took but an instant. Dunwoodie was
living in the past, but there was no use in beating about the bush and
he said as much.
"You are thinking of the common law, sir."
Absently Dunwoodie creased his towel. "Now you mention it, I believe I
am."
Jeroloman glanced at his watch. It was getting late. His residence was
five miles away. He was to dress, dine early and take his wife to the
theatre. He would have to hurry and he reached for his hat.
"The common law was abrogated long ago."