"You cannot marry Mistress Mallet while this girl lives." Rochester looked sternly and inquiringly at her.

"You think your marriage was feigned," pursued Judith; "that he was no priest who performed the ceremony; and that no other witnesses were present except Sir George Etherege and Pillichody.

But you are mistaken.

I and Chowles were present; and he who officiated _was_ a priest.

The marriage was a lawful one; and yon sleeping girl, who, but for your ill-timed interference, would, ere this, have breathed her last, is to all intents and purposes Countess of Rochester." "A lie!" cried the earl, furiously.
"I will soon prove it to be truth," rejoined Judith.