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Captain Macklin by Richard Harding Davis
page 95 of 255 (37%)
traveller; that you are going to the capital on business, and that you
are a friend of the Government."

I was going to tell him that until it had been handed me by Aiken, I
had known nothing of the passport, but I considered that in some way
this might involve Aiken, and so I answered:

"It was necessary to tell them any story, sir, in order to get into
the interior. I could not tell them that I was _not_ a friend of the
Government, nor that I was trying to join you."

"Your stories are somewhat conflicting," said the General. "You are
led to our hiding-place by a man who is himself under suspicion, and
the only credentials you can show are from the enemy. Why should I
believe you are what you say you are? Why should I believe you are not
a spy?"

I could not submit to having my word doubted, so I bowed stiffly and
did not speak.

"Answer me," the General commanded, "what proofs have I?"

"You have nothing but my word for it," I said.

General Laguerre seemed pleased with that, and I believe he was really
interested in helping me to clear myself. But he had raised my temper
by questioning my word.

"Surely you must have something to identify you," he urged.

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