"Will you be satisfied, if I send him to England under guard?" the Governor asked Marbury. "No, I am not satisfied," was the answer. "He may, in truth, be Sir Charles Brandon, but that does not prevent him from being Long-Sword, too. By his own admission (I heard it, as I stood in the outer room), he has not been home for four years, and he has had no word from England in the interim. Why?--Why?--Where has he been these four years?--what doing? It is just about that period since Long-Sword the Pirate appeared. Strange coincidence, is it not, when you consider the resemblance?--and the further fact, that he is discreetly silent as to his whereabouts during these four years. I was willing to let him go, when he escaped. I wanted no further bother concerning him. But, when he actually has the effrontery to invade your Excellency's house, as a guest, and impose upon the good people of this Province, I say, let him be punished. No, sir, I am not satisfied to have him sent home, and then released, if he be identified as Brandon." The Governor nodded, gravely. "What have you to say, monsieur, to the proposition, that you could be both Sir Charles Brandon and Long-Sword?" he asked. Brandon raised his hands, expressively. "That may be true," said he. "But an English gentleman, of means, is not likely to become a pirate." "Your Excellency," said Jamison, coming a step forward, "might I be permitted to say something?" Colonel Sharpe turned to him, with a frown. "Speak up!" he said, shortly. "What is it?" "Long-Sword had a collar-bone broken in the fight, when he was captured--" began Jamison. "And you mean, that there may be evidence of it?" the Governor interrupted. "Very good!--Brandon, will you submit to examination?" "Certainly, sir! I shall be glad to let either you or Mr. Maynadier inspect my shoulders. Why did you not speak of this sooner, fellow?" he added. It was the evidence he had been hoping for--had, indeed, depended on to establish his innocence. And they had been long in coming to it! The bones had knit as neatly as before the break. "And when you are about it," added Jamison, "you might look for a star-shaped birth-mark, under the left arm. I noticed it, when I bound up his injury. If it is not there, then he is not Long-Sword." "Very good! my man, they may look for the birth-mark, too," said Brandon. He crossed to the window, where the sun would fall full upon him, divesting himself of his coat as he went; glanced out at the turf, below, tossed the coat, carelessly, on a chair, and, putting one hand on the ledge, suddenly vaulted through the opening. It was so totally unexpected, that, for an instant, no one moved. Then Captain Herford, with a shout to his men to follow, bounded across the room, and leaped out in pursuit.