ed Burr. "Mr. Jefferson
believes in a great human democracy. I myself regret to state that I
cannot quite go with him to the lengths he fancies."

"I shall report the entire matter to his Majesty's government!" said
Mr. Merry, again helping himself to wine. "To be received here by a
man in his stable clothes--so to meet us when we come formally to pay
our call to this government--that is an insult! I fancy it to be a
direct and intentional one."

"Insult is small word for it," broke in the irate Spanish minister,
still further down the table. "I certainly shall report to my own
government what has happened here--of that be very sure!"

"Give me leave, sir," continued Merry. "This republic, what is it?
What has it done?"

"I ask as much," affirmed Yrujo. "A small war with your own country,
Great Britain, sir--in which only your generosity held you back--that
is all this country can claim. In the South, my people own the mouth
of the great river--we own Florida--we own the province of Texas--all
the Southern and Western lands. True, Louis XV--to save it from Great
Britain, perhaps, sir"--he bowed to the British minister--"originally
ceded Louisiana to our crown. True, also, my sovereign has ceded it
again to France. But Spain still rules the South, just as Britain
rules the middle country out beyond; and what is left? I snap my
fingers at this republic!"

Senor Yrujo helped himself to a brimming glass of his own wine.

"I say that Western country is ours," he still insisted, warming to
his oration now. "Suppose, under coercion, our sovereign did cede it
to Napoleon, who claims it now? Does Spain not govern it still? Do we
not collect the revenues? Is not the whole system of law enforced
under the flag of Spain, all along the great river yonder? Possession,
exploration, discovery--those are the rights under which territories
are annexed. France has the title to that West, but we hold the land
itself--we administer it. And never shall it go from under our flag,
unless it be through the act of stronger foreign powers. Spain will
fight!"

"Will Spain fight?" demanded a deep and melodious voice. It was that
of Aaron Burr who spoke now, half in query, half in challenge. "Would
Spain fight--and would Great Britain, if need were and the time came?"

He spoke to men heated with wine, smarting under social indignity, men
owning a hurt personal vanity.

"Our past is proof enough," said Merry proudly.

Yrujo needed no mo