"
"How the sorra can you say that," replied the friar, "when you know that
Adam and Eve were created full-grown?"
"Pray go on with your tradition," said Greatrakes, "and let us hear the
history of the Black Spectre. I am not myself an infidel in the history
of supernatural appearances, and I wish to hear you out."
"Well, then," replied the friar, "you shall. The villain proposed
marriage to this beautiful young orphan, and as he was a handsome
vagabone, as I have stated, he was accepted; but his eyes, above all
things, were irresistible. They were married by a Protestant clergyman,
and immediately afterwards by a Catholic priest, who was far advanced
in years. The lady would submit to no marriage but a legal one. The
marriage, however, was private; for Hamilton knew that Essex was aware
of his having been during this event a married man, and that his
wife, who was a distant relation of the Earl's, was still living. The
marriage, however, came to Essex's ears, and Hamilton was called to
account. He denied the marriage, the old priest having been now dead,
and none but the Protestant clergyman of the parish being alive to bear
testimony to the fact of the marriage.
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