The issue of the application would rest with the judges. But if he
could prove that he had been intentionally deceived, the legal opinion
is that his case would be a strong one."
"Suppose I chose to apply on my side?" said Magdalen, eagerly. "What
then?"
"You might make the application," replied the captain. "But remember
one thing--you would come into Court with the acknowledgment of your own
deception. I leave you to imagine what the judges would think of that."
"Did the lawyer tell you anything else?"
"One thing besides," said Captain Wragge. "Whatever the law might do
with the marriage in the lifetime of both the parties to it--on the
death of either one of them, no application made by the survivor would
avail; and, as to the case of that survivor, the marriage would remain
valid. You understand? If he dies, or if you die--and if no application
has been made to the Court--he the survivor, or you the survivor, would
have no power of disputing the marriage. But in the lifetime of both of
you, if he claimed to have the marriage dissolved, the chances are all
in favor of his carrying his point."
He looked at Magdalen with a furtive curiosity as he said those words.
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