For a moment there had flashed across his brain the thought that he might
punish these people for their interference with his affairs. He might
bring an action against Dr. Jedd for slander, and compel the physician to
prove the charges insinuated against him, or pay the penalty attendant
upon an unjustifiable accusation. He was well assured that Dr. Jedd could
prove very little; and a jury, if properly worked, might award him
exemplary damages.
But on the other hand, the circumstantial evidence against him was very
strong; and evidence which might be insufficient to prove him guilty in a
trial for his life might be a sufficient defence for his enemies against
an action for slander; if, indeed, the course which Dr. Jedd and
Valentine Hawkehurst had taken did in itself constitute a slanderous and
malicious imputation. Nor could any such action invalidate the marriage
solemnized that morning; and that one fact comprised his utter ruin.
Charlotte's interests were merged in the interests of her husband. No
shadow of claim upon John Haygarth's wealth remained to him.
His ruin was complete and dire. For a long time his circumstances had
been desperate--no avenue of escape open to him but the one dark way
which he had trodden; and now that last road was closed against him. The
day was very near at hand when his fictitious bills on shadowy companies
must be dishonoured; and with the dishonour of those bills came the end
of all things for him,--a complete revelation of all those dishonest
artifices by which he had kept his piratical bark afloat on the
commercial waters.
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