I've got my head on like a piece of flesh and blood that
belongs to me--bien sur."
She suddenly drew from her breast a folded piece of blue paper. "There
it is, signed by Judge Grimshaw that married us, and there's the seal;
and the whole thing can't be set aside. Look at it, if you like,
petite."
She held it not far from Junia's face, and Junia could see that it was
registration of a marriage of New York State. She could have snatched
the paper away, but she meant to conquer Luzanne's savage spirit. "Well,
how do you intend to defeat your husband?"
"I mean to have the people asked from a platform if they've seen the wife
of the candidate, and then a copy of the certificate will be read to all.
What do you think will happen after that?"
"It will have to be done to-night or to-morrow night," remarked Junia.
"Because the election comes the day after to-morrow,--eh
"Because of that. And who will read the document?"
"Who but the man he's trying to defeat?--tell me that."
"You mean Barode Barouche?"
"Who else?"
"Has he agreed to do it?"
Luzanne nodded. "On the day--Carnac became a candidate."
"And if Carnac Grier denies it?"
"He won't deny it. He never has. He says he was drunk when the thing
was done--mais, oui."
"Is that all he says?"
"No. He says he didn't know it was a real marriage, and--" Luzanne then
related Carnac's defence, and added: "Do you think anyone would believe
him with the facts as they are? Remember I'm French and he's English,
and that marriage to a French girl is life and death; and this is a
French province!"
"And yet you are a Catholic and French, and were married by a Protestant
judge.
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