Author of "The Colonel of the Red Huzzars," "Beatrix of Clare," "The Princess Dehra," "The Woman in Question," etc. With Illustrations in Color by Clarence F. Underwood [Illustration: DROIT ET AVANT] Philadelphia and London J. B. Lippincott Company 1910 Copyright, 1910 By John Reed Scott Published September, 1910 Printed by J. B. Lippincott Company The Washington Square Press, Philadelphia, U.S.A. DEDICATED TO THE ONE WITHOUT WHOSE UNFAILING COMFORT ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE IN TIME OF SERIOUS AFFLICTION AND DEEP DISTRESS THIS STORY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FINISHED FOREWORD I have endeavored to tell an old story in a modern fashion. Wherein I have failed, I beg indulgence; wherein I have succeeded, even a little, I have to thank the Spirit of the Past, which still lingers in the ancient capital and its environs. To Mrs. Story, the present owner, who graciously permitted me to inspect Whitehall; to Mrs. Dugan, Prudence R.--a direct descendant of John Ridout, the Commissary-General--who gave me much information concerning Governor Sharpe; and to Miss Shaffer, the State Librarian, in whose charge are the _Maryland Gazettes_ of the period, as well as to the _Gazettes_ themselves, I wish to express my sincere appreciation. J. R. S. GETTYSBURG, PENNA., 6 June '10. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I.--THE GOVERNOR'S NIECE 13 II.--SIR EDWARD PARKINGTON 24 III.--THE RACES 33 IV.--THE MARBURYS 46 V.--HEDGELY HALL AND MARBURY, SENIOR 59 VI.--THE MISTAKE 73 VII.--SIR EDWARD LAYS PLANS 88 VIII.--THE MEANING OF A SHRUG 104 IX.--THE SURPRISE 122 X.--THE DEFEAT 141 XI.--THE KEY 160 XII.--MAYNADIER'S DREAM 178 XIII.--THE CAMPAIGNS 196 XIV.--GUILTY AND NOT GUILTY 212 XV.--LONG-SWORD AGAIN 233 XVI.--THE CRESCENT AND THE STAR 253 XVII.--A LETTER AND A CONFESSION 271 XVIII.--THE BROKEN RENDEZVOUS 289 XIX.--ARRAIGNED 304 XX.--THE PENALTY OF A BIRTH-MARK 320 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE "MISS STIRLING, IS SIR EDWARD DANGEROUS, AS WELL AS FASCINATING, OR SIMPLY FASCINATING?" ASKED MISS MARBURY _Frontispiece_ "IT IS A QUEER TRADE, MONSIEUR, THIS OF A PIRATE," HE SAID 144 "WHAT WERE YOU AND SIR EDWARD TALKING ABOUT LAST NIGHT?" HE ASKED 306 THE IMPOSTOR I THE GOVERNOR'S NIECE Martha Stirling came slowly down the steps into the garden, pausing for a moment, on each step, lest the Governor hear her; then she sped quickly across the lawn, and, bending over, kissed him on the cheek. "Good morning, your Excellency!" she laughed.