re than a shrug.

"Divide and conquer?" Burr went on, looking at them, and raising an
eyebrow in query.

They nodded, both of them. Burr looked around. His daughter and
Meriwether Lewis were oblivious. He saw the young man's eyes, somber,
deep, fixed on hers; saw her gazing in return, silent, troubled,
fascinated.

One presumes that it was at this moment--at the instant when Aaron
Burr, seeing the power his daughter held over young Meriwether Lewis,
and the interest he held for her, turned to these foreign officials at
his left--at that moment, let us say, the Burr conspiracy began.

"Divide that unknown country, the West, and how long would this
republic endure?" said Aaron Burr.

The noise of the banquet now rose about them. Voices blended with
laughter; the wine was passing; awkwardness and restraint had given
way to good cheer. In a manner they were safe to talk.

"What?" demanded Aaron Burr once more. "Could a few francs transfer
all that marvelous country from Spain to France? That were absurd. By
what possible title could that region yonder ever come to this
republic? It is still more absurd to think that. Civilization does not
leap across great river valleys. It follows them. You have said
rightly, Senor Yrujo. To my mind Great Britain has laid fair grasp
upon the upper West; and Spain holds the lower West, with which our
statesmen have interested themselves of late. By all the rights of
conquest, discovery, and use, gentlemen, Great Britain's traders have
gained for her flag all the territory which they have reached on
their Western trading routes. I go with you that far."

Merry turned upon Burr suddenly a deep and estimating eye.

"I begin to see," said he, "that you are open to conviction, Mr.
Burr."

"Not open to conviction," said Aaron Burr, "but already convinced!"

"What do you mean, Colonel Burr?" The Englishman bent toward him,
frowning in intentness.

"I mean that perhaps I have something to say to you two gentlemen of
the foreign courts which will be of interest and importance to you."

"Where, then, could we meet after this is over?"

The minister from Great Britain surely was not beyond close and ready
estimate of events.

"At my residence, after this dinner," rejoined Aaron Burr instantly.
His eye did not waver as it looked into the other's, but blazed with
all the fire of his own soul. "Across the Alleghanies, along the great
river, there is a land waiting, ready for strong men.