"Gentlemen," said Colonel Sharpe, "I regret that it is as the Governor of Maryland, and not as Colonel Sharpe, that I have had to request your presence here, this morning."
"We took it, from the formal manner of our summons, that your Excellency wished to confer with us in your official capacity," said Parkington, easily.
The Governor bowed again.
"Which, being understood," said he, "we can proceed to business.... Sir Edward Parkington, I have received information of such a pertinent character, that I have no other course than to question your identity. I do it with the greatest reluctance—you have been a guest in my house, and in the houses of the prominent men of the Colony—you presented letters, from Lord Baltimore, which were regular, and which entitled you to be received. We are informed, now, that you are not their rightful owner—in other words, that you are an impostor. What, sir, have you to say in explanation?"
Parkington laughed a little, easy laugh, and brushed a speck of dust from his coat sleeve.
"I have nothing to say," he replied.—"Your Excellency's information is correct. I am not Sir Edward Parkington."
The Governor's jaw closed tight, his face grew very stern, and, for a brief time, he did not answer.
"How did you come into possession of Lord Baltimore's letters?" he asked, at length. "Did you steal them?"
"No!" said Parkington, "unless taking them from a dead man is stealing." ... He shrugged his shoulders. "I will tell you the facts, since you wish to know them."
He drew out his snuff-box—offered it to the others, with a graceful gesture—took a pinch himself, and told his story.