He broke off, choking.
"Ah, Molly, at last and indeed I am again William Banion!"
He took from the otter skin--which Chardon once had placed over the oilskin used by Carson to protect it--the long and formal envelope of heavy linen. His finger pointed--"On the Service of the United States."
"Why, Will!"
He caught the envelope swiftly to his lips, holding it there an instant before he could speak.
"My pardon! From the President! Not guilty--oh, not guilty! And I never was!"
"Oh, Will, Will! That makes you happy?"
"Doesn't it you?"
"Why, yes, yes! But I knew that always! And I know now that I'd have followed you to the gallows if that had had to be."
"Though I were a thief?"