"They are regular," he said, "but rather old--the latest is dated more than four years back." "I am Sir Charles Brandon, now, just as well as four years ago!" he laughed. Then, he explained: "It is four years since I left England." "And you have not, in that time, had letters from home?" "None." The Governor nodded, then turned to Maynadier, and the two conversed in low tones. Brandon stretched out his legs and frowned--the talk had stirred old ashes that still smouldered. De Lysle, untroubled and unconcerned, picked up the Gazette, the Governor had been reading, and glanced over it. The first three columns had to do with news, three months old, of the Court and Parliament. He passed them by. The column which did for Boston, and New York and Philadelphia, also, went unread. The stick of Annapolis doings, for the past week, was glanced at, curiously. Then, down at the bottom of the last column, something in larger type, caught his eye. He looked, casually, at it, then looked again--then read it, amazed, and a second time, read it, and the third time. Just at that moment, Marbury re-entered. Brandon turned his head from him, but the former stopped, deliberately peered in his face, and wheeled on the Governor. "Your Excellency," he said, "it would appear that you have seined for a small fish, and caught a shark. This man you know, I believe, as Sir Charles Brandon?" "He was so introduced," returned the Governor, a little surprise showing in his voice; "and his papers bear him out--albeit, they are some four years old." Marbury laughed, scornfully. "The papers seem to bear out Parkington, too!" he said. "However, they may be right enough--he may be Sir Charles Brandon--but--he is, also, Long-Sword the Pirate." XX THE PENALTY OF A BIRTH-MARK If Marbury had played for effect, he could not have done it better. For an instant, no one spoke--no one even stirred. Then, the Governor recovered himself. "My God! man! do you realize what you have said?" he exclaimed. "I do," said Marbury; "and I am ready to prove it." He strode to the window. "Let Jamison and his mate come in!" he shouted. At the same time, the Governor raised his voice. "Herford!" he called, "the guard! the guard!--Your pardon, sir," addressing Brandon, "but the seriousness of the charge obligates it." De Lysle had sprung up in indignation; Brandon stayed him with a gesture. "I understand," he said, crossing his legs, with unconcern. "It is a proper precaution. If I were Long-Sword, there might be need for them. As I am not he, I must ask Mr. Marbury to produce his evidence at once. It is scarcely fitting, that Sir Charles Brandon rest under an imputation so serious, an instant longer than is required to disprove it." "Let Jamison, and the mate, wait in the outer room until required," said Colonel Sharpe, to Herford who, at that moment, appeared at the head of the guard.--"Now, Mr. Marbury, we are ready to hear your proofs."