The Floating Admiral - Agatha Christie [53]
“Precisely,” said Mr. Dakers; “I must admit that there was—an appearance at any rate of objection. And that being the case, I do not quite know what the Court would think of a marriage so hastily concluded. It might be inferred that the Admiral was violently opposed to the marriage, and that, therefore, the marriage was undertaken with a definite intention of frustrating the object of the testator. The indecent haste attending the ceremony affords, you see, in itself a presumption that the death of the Admiral removed the only obstacle to the marriage.”
“And that being so,” said Rudge, “an allegation might be made that the Admiral’s death was not altogether—shall we say, by Act of God.”
“If such a monstrous allegation were made,” replied Mr. Dakers, “it would have to be refuted; in which case, the mere fact that the hastiness of the marriage might jeopardise the absolute right to the estate would constitute a very good answer to the charge.”
“Yes,” said Rudge, seizing on the weak point of the argument, “provided the beneficiary was aware how the law stood.” He considered for a moment, and then said:
“And your second line of defence would be?”
“To show that the ceremony was not arranged until after death had made it impossible to obtain consent. If it were so—though I do not see how a licence could have been taken out in the time—it would be a complete answer to the contesting party. It has frequently so been held. For instance, in Collett v. Collett, the mother, whose consent was required, died in 1856. In 1865 the daughter married. The Master of the Rolls held that the gift over (that is, to the person who was to get the money in case the condition was not fulfilled, you understand) will not take effect, if the performance of the condition has become impossible through the Act of God and no default of the person who had to perform it.” (Mr. Dakers, reading these words from a note-book, glanced over his pince-nez at Rudge, who said nothing. He resumed.) “‘Here it is reasonably certain that the mother, if she had lived, would have given her consent to this marriage, one eligible in all respects.’ There, you see, Inspector, is our difficulty. The Court seems to have based its decision to some extent on what the mother might reasonably have been expected to do.”
“I see,” said Rudge. “And in this case the Admiral’s consent could not very well be presumed with any certainty.”
“There again,” said the lawyer, “who is to say? If the eligibility of the marriage, as such, is a factor to be taken into consideration, there seems to be no reason why Admiral Penistone should not have consented. Holland, so far as I know anything about him, seems to be a respectable man of suitable age and standing and with sufficient money of his own to take him out of the class of mere fortune-hunters. It is a very pretty case, Mr. Rudge, and if I were not personally concerned it would give me great pleasure to see it thrashed out.”
Rudge was about to reply, when the sound of an approaching car was heard. A slight commotion followed at the front door. Voices and footsteps sounded and a minute after, the study door was thrown open.
“Inspector,” said Arthur Holland as he followed his wife into the room, “we owe you an apology for running off like this, but we were in a hurry and were afraid you might delay us. Is this Mr. Dakers? How do you do, sir? My wife and I received your note, and thought we had better come and set your mind at rest.”
“Thank you,” said Mr. Dakers, rather dryly. “Well, Elma, you have married in very great haste. I trust you will not have to repent it at leisure.”
Elma laughed. There was a faint flush of colour in her usually pale cheeks and she looked, Rudge thought, rather a prey to some consuming excitement than radiant with the happiness of a newly married woman.
“You have made a mistake, Mr. Dakers,” she said. “I haven’t jeopardised anything or compromised anything. Look at that.”
She handed him a sheet