"No," she said, with a shake of her head, "that would be unnecessarily difficult for the man--he would have to prove too much; and the further removed the proofs are from America, the more they are required." "But if the man thought nothing of the difficulty?" he asked. "I should be severe!" she laughed. "I should want to be assured, first, of his good faith." He bowed. "And of his family's willingness, if I were to go to England." "Suppose you did not have to go to England--suppose that he remained here?" "It is not supposable," she answered. "But if it were?" he insisted. "Then, it would be eliminated." "And what else would he have to prove?" "He would have to prove," she answered, slowly, "that he has a right to the name he bears." Though she was watching him closely, he gave not the slightest indication of surprise. "Would that not be most unusual," he said--"to require a man to prove that he is _not_ an impostor? Is not the presumption with him instead of against him--unless, of course, something has aroused your suspicions?" "Yes!" was the vague reply, that told him nothing, and let him think anything. "And, then, after he had done all these things, Sir Edward, he would have to make me love him." "My dear Miss Marbury," said Parkington, with an amused smile, "when you admit the love element all else departs." "I should not love him _until_ he had complied with the conditions." "You would coerce love?" he asked. "I should try," she answered, after a little pause. His hand found hers, as though by accident, and she let it linger for an instant, before she took her own away. Then, she said: "Sometimes, Sir Edward, I fancy you are inclined to play at making love to me just to keep your hand in!" and, with a merry laugh, fled. In the first week of August, Sir Edward Parkington came to Annapolis to stay with Governor Sharpe, preparatory to going with him to Whitehall. He promptly returned the two hundred pounds, his Excellency had lent him earlier in the season; the card tables had yielded very good pickings from his fellow guests, and no need for any exercise of his particular skill, either, his natural ability, and Dame Fortune, having been ample for success. The Governor and the Lower House had reached an agreement as to the Supply Bill, at last, and the Assembly was scheduled to be prorogued on the morrow. The town was filled with those who usually attend the last hours of any legislative body:--the officers of the Provincial Government, the Councillors, the Representatives, the hangers on, the spoilsmen and the riff-raff. Otherwise, Annapolis was deserted.