Are you sufficiently confused about the law of Irregular Marriages in Scotland by this time, Mr.Delamayn?
And have I said enough to justify the strong language I used when I undertook to describe it to you ?" "Who's that 'authority' you talked of just now ?" inquired Geoffrey.
"Couldn't I ask _him ?_" "You might find him flatly contradicted, if you did ask him by another authority equally learned and equally eminent," answered Sir Patrick.
"I am not joking--I am only stating facts.

Have you heard of the Queen's Commission ?" "No." "Then listen to this.

In March, 'sixty-five, the Queen appointed a Commission to inquire into the Marriage-Laws of the United Kingdom.

The Report of that Commission is published in London; and is accessible to any body who chooses to pay the price of two or three shillings for it.

One of the results of the inquiry was, the discovery that high authorities were of entirely contrary opinions on one of the vital questions of Scottish marriage-law.