"Forgeries!" I fairly gasped.
"Yes, rank forgeries," replied the old man grimly.
"But--sir--" I stammered, "'tis the King's own writing."
"You are sure of that, eh?"
"Yes, sure as death."
"And why?"
"Because I saw a letter from King Charles at Sir John Berkeley's house but a week ago. 'Tis framed and hangs upon the wall; and the writing is the same as that," I added, pointing to the documents.
"You have good cause for saying that; yet 'tis not so."
"Well, at any rate two peas were never more alike. I remember thinking that the 'Charles' looked more like Charley--just as this one does. Yes, 'tis wonderfully like it."
"Ah! I am with you there," rejoined my father grimly. "As you say, 'tis wonderfully like indeed--and why? Because 'twas written by a wonderfully clever man."