"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----" "And this is not he?" "This is not he.--The true Parkington is quite the reverse of this man. He is short, stout, ruddy, and bald." "You know this as a fact--of your own knowledge?" demanded the Colonel. "I do. I saw Sir Edward Parkington a number of times. I talked with him at least twice, at White's. Moreover, he was an intimate of Baltimore. I cannot be mistaken--unless, of course, there be two of the name, which is unlikely." "Decidedly unlikely," the Governor agreed. He took a turn back and forth on the grass. "When did you know this?" he asked, suddenly. "From the moment I saw him." "And why did you not disclose it--why did you keep silent?" "It was at the races, the day after he arrived. I saw you bring him up and present him to Miss Stirling; a little later, when I met him, and was given his name as Parkington, I assumed there was some reason for it--when I heard of his letters, I was sure of it. It was no affair of mine, I thought, to meddle in affairs of State. You had vouched for him--that was sufficient." The Colonel nodded. He dug his stick into the turf and considered. "It is a bit awkward," he said. "He has been accepted, by the Province, on the strength of my vouchment--and I introduced him on the strength of his letters--and the letters are authentic----" "Hence he is authentic!" laughed Maynadier. "I am justified in so assuming," the Colonel continued. "On the other hand, I can have him thrown out as an impostor, and proclaim him as such--but, what is the profit? The man is plainly of the class he masquerades; he has borne himself, naturally, as one of them; he has committed no improprieties.--I am at a loss what to do--whether to demand an explanation, or to let things rest, for the present.... If I thought he would soon depart, I should be tempted to do nothing. And, yet, where did he get those letters?--Did the real Parkington give them to him for a purpose? did he steal them? or is not Parkington in it, at all--is it some of Baltimore's doings?" He threw up his hands, in doubt. "There is the gentleman, now," said Maynadier, who was standing facing the house. "He is coming this way." The Governor turned, and watched him approach. "Hum! damned fine looking!" he muttered. "He could give the real Parkington all the weight, and then beat him in a canter. Confound it, Maynadier, I like the fellow!"