Judges exercise a good deal of latitude in these matters." "But will he be arrested for marrying me?
If any wrong has been done with respect to the marriage license, I am equally to blame," she said loyally.
Steingall frowned judicially.

Their conversation was approaching perilously near the forbidden topic of de Courtois.
"In law, as in most affairs of life, it does no good to meet trouble half way, your ladyship," he said.

"Now, reverting to the Hungarian prince--do you remember the names of any persons, of either sex, whom he associated with in Paris?
Of course, such a man would be widely known in what is called society, but I want you to try and recall some of his intimate friends." "I believe you would find his boon companions in certain cafes on the Grand Boulevard and in the vaudeville theaters on Montmartre; but would it not help you a little if I told you of his enemies ?" "Most certainly." "Well, I do happen to know that he is hated most cordially by the Countess Marie Zapolya, who lives in the Hotel Ritz." "In Paris ?" "Yes.

She advised me to shun him as I would the plague." "Did she give any reason ?" "It may sound strange, but I really believe she wants him to marry her daughter." "Ah, that is interesting.

Pray go on." "I never understood the thing rightly, but I heard once, through a servant, that Count Vassilan was expected to wed Elizabetta Zapolya--the succession to the Hungarian monarchy, if ever it were revived, was involved--but Count Vassilan spurned the lady.