finding him at
last where he sat at no great distance from the group of central
importance. His face was turned in Mocket's direction, and the light
from a high window fell upon it. "He doesn't see me," thought Tom to
himself. "Who's he looking at like that?"

The witness's voice, raised by suggestion of counsel to a higher note,
came athwart Mocket's speculations. "I listened to Colonel Burr's mode
of indemnity; and as I had by this time begun to suspect that the
military expedition he had on foot was unlawful, I permitted him to
believe myself resigned to his influence, that I might understand the
extent and motive of his arrangements. Colonel Burr now laid open his
project of revolutionizing the territory west of the Alleghany;
establishing an independent empire there; New Orleans to be the capital,
and he himself to be the chief; organizing a military force on the
waters of the Mississippi, and carrying conquest to Mexico--"

On went Eaton's disclosures, punctuated by heated objections from
Wickham and Luther Martin, and once or twice by a scornful question from
Burr himself. It was damning testimony, and the throng hung breathless
on the various voices. Mocket listened also, but listened with his eyes
upon his chief, and when there arose some interruption and dispute over
technicalities, his freed mind proceeded to deal with Rand's change of
aspect. It occurred to him to wonder if the light which showed it to him
could be falling through a veil of storm cloud, but when he glanced at
the high window, there was only the blue August heaven. What, then, gave
Lewis so dark a look? "The black dog he talks of has got him sure,"
thought Tom. "What's happened to anger him like that?"

The voice of the witness again made itself heard. "Colonel Burr stated
that he had secured to his interests and attached to his person the most
distinguished citizens of Tennessee, Kentucky, and the territory of
Orleans; that the army of the United States would act with him; that it
would be reinforced by ten or twelve thousand men from the above states
and territories, and that he had powerful agents in the Spanish
territory. He proposed to give me a distinguished command in his army; I
understood him to say the second in command. I asked him who would
command in chief. He said, General Wilkinson. I said that General
Wilkinson would act as lieutenant to no man in existence. 'You are in
error,' said Mr. Burr. 'Wilkinson will act as lieutenan