y into the
deep seat near by the lamp, while he continued pacing up and down the
room, voluble and persuasive, full of his great idea.

The matters which he had but now discussed with the two foreign
officials he placed before his daughter. He told her all--except the
truth. And Aaron Burr knew how to gild falsehood itself until it
seemed the truth.

"Now you have it, my dear," said he. "You see, my ambition to found a
country of my own, where a man may have a real ambition. This dirty
village here is too narrow a field for talents like yours or mine. Let
me tell you, Napoleon has played a great jest with Mr. Jefferson.
There is nothing in the Constitution of the United States--I am lawyer
enough to know that--which will make it possible for Congress to
ratify the purchase of Louisiana. We cannot carve new States from that
country--it is already settled by the subjects of another government.
Hence the expedition of Mr. Lewis must fail--it must surely fall of
its own weight. It is based upon an absurdity. Not even Mr. Jefferson
can fly in the face of the supreme laws of the land.

"But as to the Mississippi Valley, matters are entirely different.
There is no law against that country's organizing for a better
government. There is every natural reason for that. As these States on
the East confederated in the cause against oppression, so can those
yonder. There will be more opportunity for strong men there when that
game is on the board--men like Captain Lewis, for instance. Should one
ally one's self with a foredoomed failure? Not at all. I prefer rather
success--station, rank, power, money, for myself, if you please. With
us--a million dollars for the founding of our new country. With
him--for the undertaking of yonder impracticable and chimerical
expedition, twenty-five hundred dollars! Which enterprise, think you,
will win?

"But, on the other hand, if that expedition of Mr. Jefferson's should
succeed by virtue of accident, or of good leadership, all my plans
must fail--that is plain. It comes, therefore, to this, Theo, and I
may tell you plainly--Captain Lewis must be seen--he must be
stopped--we must hold a conference with him. It would be useless for
me to undertake to arrange all that. There is only one person who can
save your father's future--and that one, my daughter, is--you!"

He caught Theodosia's look of surprise, her start, the swift flush on
her cheek--and laughed lightly.

"Let me explain. Aaron Bu