In other words, to represent Anne (in the character of "the lady") as claiming to be married to Arnold (in the character of "his friend").
Having made this concession to circumstances, he was, at the same time, quite cunning enough to see that it was of vital importance to the purpose which he had in view, to confine himself strictly to this one perversion of the truth.

There could be plainly no depending on the lawyer's opinion, unless that opinion was given on the facts exactly a s they had occurred at the inn.

To the facts he had, thus far, carefully adhered; and to the facts (with the one inevitable departure from them which had been just forced on him) he determined to adhere to the end.
"Did no letters pass between the lady and gentleman ?" pursued Sir Patrick.
"None that I know of," answered Geoffrey, steadily returning to the truth.
"I have done, Mr.Delamayn." "Well?
and what's your opinion ?" "Before I give my opinion I am bound to preface it by a personal statement which you are not to take, if you please, as a statement of the law.

You ask me to decide--on the facts with which you have supplied me--whether your friend is, according to the law of Scotland, married or not ?" Geoffrey nodded.

"That's it!" he said, eagerly.
"My experience, Mr.Delamayn, is that any single man, in Scotland, may marry any single woman, at any time, and under any circumstances.