But if she elected to treat the marriage as a binding act, no matter how it was procured, and continued to live with her husband, that vital fact would affect the question of validity ?" "As you say, it would be a vital fact." The detective was clearly impressed, but Lord Valletort swept aside these quibbles of jurisprudence.
"My daughter's actions will be revealed in detail to a judge," he said loftily.

"At present I fail to see what bearing they have on the discussion, unless, indeed, you mean to arrest Curtis immediately on a charge which I am prepared to formulate." "No, that is not why I requested your lordship and Count Vassilan to come here this morning," said Steingall, gazing anxiously at the clock.
"I would prefer to await the arrival of Detective Clancy with Jean de Courtois, but, if the Frenchman refuses to come, he is within his rights, and I suppose I shall have to apply for a warrant, though, if I choose, I can arrest him merely on suspicion." "Suspicion of what ?" demanded the Earl.
"Of complicity in the murder of Mr.Hunter last night." "The man was tied in his room at the time of the murder," cried the Hungarian hoarsely, speaking for the first time since he had entered Schmidt's office.

He was obviously excited, and excitement is a powerful foe of good resolutions, with which the moral pavement is littered in Hungary and elsewhere.
"That does not affect the charge of complicity," said Steingall thoughtfully.

"A man may be an accomplice, though the actual crime is committed at a time and place when he is far distant.

It is possible for an accomplice to be in Paris, or on the high seas, while a victim is falling under an assassin's knife in New York.