His best man, who signed the register as a witness, was Mark Ransford.

Brake and Ransford, as young men, had been in the habit of going to Braden Medworth to fish; Mary Bewery was governess at the vicarage there.

It was always supposed she would marry Ransford; instead, she married Brake, who, of course, took her off to London.

Of their married life, I know nothing.

But within a few years, Brake was in trouble, for the reason I have told you.