Before breakfast, the following morning, Colonel Sharpe sent for Maynadier.  
"Sleep did it!" said the Governor. "I have made up my mind. I shall give him a chance to explain, and upon his explanation will depend my future course. Whether or not I shall take up the matter of the Marbury money, we will determine later."
 
"It is a wise decision," Maynadier agreed.
 
"I dare not do less out of consideration for my position. He has presented another man's letters, has taken that other man's name, has entered this house, and the houses of our friends under false pretenses. In short, he has acted the rogue, and he must bear the consequences."
 
"How can he possibly explain?" asked Maynadier. "What justification can there be for his conduct?"
 
"None that I can apprehend—but we must not prejudge him; we must give him a chance. I believe the law has a maxim, that every one is presumed innocent until proven guilty. You said, I think, that Marbury was not leaving Annapolis until to-night?"
 
"So he told me," said Maynadier.
 
[Pg 305]
 
The Governor nodded. "I have sent for him. When he arrives, we will proceed with the matter—the quicker it is settled the better. It is a nasty business, Maynadier. I like the fellow, too, damn well!—Come in!" he called, as a knock sounded on the door.—"Ah, my dear!" as Miss Stirling's face appeared, "what got you up so early?"
 
"I am up so early because—Oh! I beg your pardon, Mr. Maynadier. I thought the Governor was alone. I will withdraw——"
 
"By no means!" said Maynadier; "our business is over, for the time.—Permit me!" and he stepped to the door.
 
"Nonsense!" exclaimed the Colonel. "She is not going to talk secrets—what is it, Martha—permission to take some of the horses?"
 
"No," she replied, and glanced, meaningly, at Maynadier—who at once retired.
 
She waited until the door was shut.
 
"It is this," she said. "That letter, which I gave you last evening—I want it back again."
 
The Governor looked his surprise.
 
"You want it back again?" he asked.
 
"Yes—and your promise not to use it. There is nothing to be gained by exposing him, except a scandal, which must, necessarily, drag me in."
 
"You have changed your mind since last night," he commented.
 
"I have," she answered. "In less than two[Pg 306] weeks he will have sailed.—So, let it rest—it will profit nothing."
 
He unlocked a drawer, took out Lady Catherwood's letter, and handed it to her.
 
A glad smile came to her face.
 
"Thank you, sir! oh, thank you!" and she bent, and brushed his cheek, lightly, with her lips.
 
He reached up, and drew her down on the arm of his chair.
 
"And have you no other reason, my dear?" he asked.
 
"No!" with a shake of her pretty head.—"No other reason."
 
He looked at her thoughtfully.
 
"What were you and Sir Edward—I call him that for want of a better name—talking about last night—out yonder in the moonlight?" he asked.
 
WHAT WERE YOU AND SIR EDWARD TALKING ABOUT LAST NIGHT
"WHAT WERE YOU AND SIR EDWARD TALKING ABOUT LAST NIGHT?"
HE ASKED.
 
She laughed, a little guiltily—watching his face the while.
 
"He was making love to me," she replied—"he does it very well, indeed, sir."
 
"So it would seem," said the Governor—"so well, indeed, that you sought at once to regain the Catherwood letter, but, thinking that I had retired, came back the first thing, this morning."
 
She flushed, and her eyes went toward the window.
 
"Just so!" he said. "I was sitting there, and saw it all—saw you leave, heard you come to my door and listen, saw you return, a moment, to him—and, now, you come again—and it is for the letter.[Pg 307] You know that he is not Parkington, that he is an impostor—consequently, he must have told you something which explains. What was it?"
 
"He acknowledged that he was not Parkington; that he——"
 
"I told you, specifically, not to mention the letter to him!" said the Governor.
 
"And I obeyed you," she answered. "Not until he had, voluntarily and of his own free will, confessed, did I refer to the letter."
 
The Governor beat a tattoo on the table with his finger-tips.
 
"Who does he say he is?" he asked, presently.
 
She told him.
 
"Huh! Doncaster's son, is he! How does he explain the letters, and the impersonation?"
 
She told him.
 
When she had finished, he sat silent, pulling at his chin.
 
"Do you think him serious in his love-making?" he asked.
 
"He did me the honor to propose," she said.
 
"Hum!—And do you—care for him?"
 
"As much as I shall ever care for any man," she answered (thinking of Maynadier). "Furthermore, it would be an excellent match for me."
 
"An excellent match, if he speaks truly. There are none better, in all England, than the De Lysles."
 
[Pg 308]
 
"He offered to wait, until we got to England, for the wedding."
 
"Hum—that makes something for sincerity, at least.—So, you wish to marry him, my dear?"
 
"I think I do," she said—"that is, if he is a De Lysle."
 
He shook his head, sadly. "I am sorry, Martha, to have to injure your prospects, but I must act as the Governor, and it is his duty to call him to account. He has misused the proprietor's letters, and our hospitality."
 
"But you gave me the letter," she expostulated. "What other proof have you that he is an impostor?"
 
"I gave you the letter to relieve you of all participation," the Colonel said. "I do not need it. I have abundant evidence without it, and there may be more, besides."
 
She gave a little gasp, and sat up.
 
"Then I can do nothing?" she asked.
 
"Nothing," he said, his hand stroking tenderly the dark tresses—"the matter must go on to its finish. The people of the Province shall not say that I knew he was an impostor, yet did not expose him. I regret it, my dear, but when one takes another's name, he commits a crime against society which cannot be tolerated."
 
"What shall I tell him?" she asked.
 
"Tell him you have the letter, and that the Governor will not use the information it contained."
 
[Pg 309]
 
"That will be the truth," she reflected.
 
"It will," he said; "and, further, you need not go."
 
And she, knowing it was useless to argue or implore, kissed him, and went, slowly, the letter of Lady Catherwood clutched tightly in her fingers.
 
She had no opportunity to communicate with Parkington until after breakfast, other than a significant nod, as his eyes sought hers, inquiringly. When the meal was finished, he joined her, and, presently, they sauntered out together.
 
"I have the letter," she said.
 
"You are a dear!" he exclaimed.
 
"And I have, also, the Governor's promise not to use either it, or the information it contains."
 
"You are a darling!" bending down, and whispering in her ear.
 
It was a caress, though he touched her not at all.
 
And her heart warmed to him, with a sympathy she had never felt before. Surely, he was handsome, with the handsomeness which a woman loved, a debonairness that was fascinating.
 
"You have done everything—you have saved me!" he exclaimed.
 
She plucked a rose; he took it, and drew it through his buttonhole.
 
"I have done what I can," she replied; "but I have not saved you."
 
"What? the letter!—the information——"
 
"Will not be used against you," she broke in;[Pg 310] "but, I fear that the Governor has other evidence, quite as strong and much more convincing."
 
His thoughts turned, instantly, to Miss Marbury. She had told—and lost no time in the telling, either, it would seem. He smiled, derisively. Brandon was right. No woman could keep a secret, unless she were vitally concerned in it.
 
"Well," he said, "I shall stay and face it. At least, they shall not say I ran away. Moreover, they cannot do more than unmask me—and, when the mask is off, they show a De Lysle—and between a De Lysle and a Parkington, even if the former is somewhat scar-marked, there is vast difference. I may not accompany Brandon home; but, when I go, you go with me."
 
She put her hand on his arm.
 
"Prove it, and I will go," she said.
 
He took her hand, regardless of who saw, and kissed it with inimitable grace, bowing low over it, the while.
 
"It is a bargain, my lady!" he said. "I accept your own terms. Now, with your permission, I will to Sir Charles Brandon, and take counsel with him."
 
As they were returning, a man came rapidly up the esplanade, from the landing, and passed them, at some little distance.
 
"Is not that Mr. Marbury?" Miss Stirling asked.
 
Parkington nodded, but did not speak.—[Pg 311]Marbury! The one man who could prove the theft! The man who could identify Long-Sword! Why should he have come to Whitehall—and at this particular time?
 
"Was he not expected?" he asked, with assumed carelessness.
 
"No," she replied. "He likely comes to see the Governor, on business which requires his personal approval."
 
"I think I will hasten to Sir Charles," he said, now thoroughly alarmed.
 
Meanwhile, Marbury had been met, as he neared the house, by Maynadier, who had noted his approach.
 
"What does his Excellency want with me?" he asked. "Has it to do with the theft?"
 
"It has—with the theft, and something more. We will go in—the Governor awaits y............