, he caught sight of the group behind the
davenport. Rapidly making his way thither, he greeted each, offering
his hand to be shaken, bowing deeply to the ladies; and so quickly
passed on, leaving them almost as much mystified as before. Only
Yrujo, the Spanish Minister, looked after him with any trace of
recognition, for at this moment Meriwether Lewis was away, among other
guests.

An instant later the curtained folding doors which separated the
anteroom from the dining-saloon were thrown open. Mr. Jefferson
passed in and took his place at the head of the table, casting not
a single look toward any who were to join him there. There was no
announcement; there was no _pas_, no precedence, no reserved place
for any man, no announcement for any lady or gentleman, no servant
to escort any to a place at table!

It had been worse, far worse, this extraordinary scene, had it not
been for the swiftness and tact of the young man to whom so much was
entrusted. Meriwether Lewis hastened here and there, weeding out those
who could not convince him that they were invited to dine. He
separated as best he might the socially elect from those not yet
socially arrived, until at length he stood, almost the sole barrier
against those who still crowded forward.

Here he was met once more by the party from behind the davenport.

"Tell me," demanded Mr. Merry, who--seeing that no other escort
offered for her--had given his angry lady his own arm, "tell me, sir,
where is the President? To whom shall I present the greetings of his
British Majesty?"

"Yonder is the President of the United States, sir," said Meriwether
Lewis. "He with whom you shook hands is the President. He stands at
the head of his table, and you are welcome if you like. He asks you to
enter."

Merry turned to his wife, and from her to the wife of the Spanish
minister.

"Impossible!" said he. "I do not understand--it cannot be! That
man--that extraordinary man in breeches and slippers yonder--it cannot
be he asks us to sit at table with him! He _cannot_ be the President
of the United States!"

"None the less he is, Mr. Merry!" the secretary assured him.

"Good Heavens!" said the minister from Great Britain, as he passed on,
half dazed.

By this time there remained but few seats, none at all toward the head
of the table or about its middle portion. Toward the end of the room,
farthest from the official host, a few chairs still stood vacant,
because they had not