been--ah, sir, how can I speak?"

"You need not speak, my dear, I know."

"I shall be faithful to my husband, Mr. Jefferson."

The old man nodded.

"Captain Lewis knows that also. He would be the last to wish it
otherwise. But, since it was his misfortune to set his regard upon one
so fair as yourself, and since fate goes so hard for a strong man like
him, then I must admit it needed strong medicine for his case. I sent
him away, yes. Would you ask him back--for any cause?"

In turn she laid a small hand upon the President's arm.

"Only for himself--for that reason alone, Mr. Jefferson, and not to
change your plans--for himself, because you love him. Oh, sir, even
the greatest courts sometimes arrest their judgment if there is new
evidence to be introduced. At the last moment justice gives a
condemned man one more chance."

"What is it, Theodosia?" he said quietly. "I do not grasp all this."

"Able men say that this government cannot take advantage of the sale
of Louisiana to us by Napoleon--that our Constitution prevents our
taking over a foreign territory already populated to make into new
States of our own----"

"Good, my learned counsel--say on!"

"Forgive my weak wit--I only try to say this as I heard it, well and
plainly."

"As well as any man, my dear! Go on."

"Therefore, even if Captain Lewis does go forward, he can only fail at
the last. This is what is said by the Federalists, by your enemies."

"And perhaps by certain of my own party not Federalists--by Colonel
Aaron Burr, for instance!" Thomas Jefferson smiled grimly.

"Yes!" She spoke firmly and with courage.

"I cannot pause to inquire what my enemies say, my dear lady. But in
what way could this effect our friend, Captain Lewis? He is under
orders, on my errand."

"I saw him this very morning--I took my reputation in my hands--I
followed him--I urged him, I implored him to stop!"

"Yes? And did he?"

"Not for an instant. Ah, I see you smile! I might have known he would
not. He said that nothing but word from you could induce him to
hesitate for a moment."

"My dear young lady, I said to Captain Lewis that no report from any
source would cause me for an instant to doubt his loyalty to me. If
anything could shake him in his loyalty, it would be his regard for
you yourself; but since I trust his honor and your own, I do not fear
that such a conflict can ever occur!"

She did not reply. After a time the President went on gently: