His next proceeding was of a far more serious kind; his next proceeding
implied a terrible certainty of success. The day of the week was
Thursday. From the inn he went to the church, saw the clerk, and gave
the necessary notice for a marriage by license on the following Monday.
Bold as he was, his nerves were a little shaken by this last
achievement; his hand trembled as it lifted the latch of the garden
gate. He doctored his nerves with brandy and water before he sent
for Magdalen to inform her of the proceedings of the morning. Another
outbreak might reasonably be expected when she heard that the last
irrevocable step had been taken, and that notice had been given of the
wedding-day.
The captain's watch warned him to lose no time in emptying his glass. In
a few minutes he sent the necessary message upstairs. While waiting for
Magdalen's appearance, he provided himself with certain materials which
were now necessary to carry the enterprise to its crowning point. In the
first place, he wrote his assumed name (by no means in so fine a hand as
usual) on a blank visiting-card, and added underneath these words: "Not
a moment is to be lost. I am waiting for you at the door--come down to
me directly.
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