Heaven knew, when she made her vows, that I was
faithful, and she therefore still my betrothed. Heaven allowed me to
discover the truth, and to find her--alive, and still unwed. To my
thinking, no Divine pronouncement was required; and when the Holy
Father's mandate arrived bringing the Church's sanction, why then
indeed naught seemed to stand between us. But Mora thought otherwise."
A tiny gleam came into the Bishop's eyes; an exceedingly refined
edition of the look of cunning which used to peep out of old Mary
Antony's.
"Have you ever heard tell, my son, that two negatives make an
affirmative? Think you not that, in something the same way, two
deceptions may make a truth. Mora was deceived into entering the
Convent, and deceived into leaving it; but from out that double
deception arises the great truth that she has, in the sight of Heaven,
been all along yours. The first deception negatives the second, and
the positive fact alone remains that Mora is wedded to you, is yours to
guard and shield from sorrow; and those whom God hath joined together,
let no man put asunder."
Hugh d'Argent passed his hand across his brow.
"I trust the matter may appear thus to Mora," he said.
The banner still wafted, gently. The Bishop gave himself time to
ponder whence that draught could come.
Then: "It will not so appear," he said. "My good Hugh, when your wife
learns from you that she was tricked by Mary Antony, she will go back
in mind to where she was before the spurious vision, and will feel
herself to be still Prioress of the White Ladies.
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