"You do not understand?" he asked, slowly. "Do you honestly mean it?"
"Mean it! Of course I mean it. What do you mean?"
"Have I permission to speak plainly?"
"You have," said the Governor—"right from the shoulder. What is it?"
"Is it possible, sir, you do not know that Sir Edward Parkington is an assumed name—that this man is not Parkington?"
The Colonel stared at him, incredulously.
"Not Parkington?" he marveled. "Not Parkington?"
Maynadier bowed. "To my certain knowledge, not Parkington."
"But his letters—they were authentic—they were in Baltimore's own hand!"
"I do not dispute them," said Maynadier, "but I have met Sir Edward Parkington, in London——"