lunch having arrived, Burr was conducted to the
dining-room, and the pair sat down to a dainty repast, served by a
black damsel, who cast furtive glances upon the stranger, and observed
that the "Missus" wore her finest jewels and seemed refreshed by the
cares of hospitality. Never before had such enlivening gossip been
heard by a servant in that sober house. The table-talk played
familiarly with names and individuals.

"What became of the handsome young Arlington?"

"You think him handsome? He is in Virginia. I expect him to join me in
a business enterprise. A fine fellow, thorough-bred. His name calls to
mind your _protegee_, the golden-haired Yankee beauty. Arlington was
smitten by her demure eyes--pierced to the heart. Those wild violets
worked him woe."

"Are you sure? Did he own it?"

"He did not confess in words, but I divined the secret, which was no
secret, for he revealed it by every sign known to the Court of Love.
He was struck as by lightning--stunned by a love bolt."

"The stroke was harmless. On his return from Cincinnati he passed
through Marietta, where he knows Evaleen lives, and made no effort to
meet her, but rode by her house; I was with her on the porch, and we
both saw him trot past on a black horse. He stared our way and must
have identified us, yet he turned his face forward and spurred on."

"Incredible! Your eyes deceived you."

"No; it was Mr. Arlington; he made a flying trip to the island in
company with a peculiar person, one Plutarch Byle."

"Byle? I shall never forget Plutarch!" interjected Burr, laughingly.
"Dominick christened our fort, 'Fort Byle.'"

"Have you seen our gaunt Hercules? Isn't he an odd Grecian? In his
'piroque' he brought Mr. Arlington here. I was from home, as I said.
My husband suggested to your Virginian friend that he ought to call on
the Hales, but the faithless cavalier slighted us. I much doubt his
interest in Evaleen."

"I am certain he was smitten."

"Then he is inconstant, or else belongs to the tribe of faint hearts.
How ridiculous the idea of folks falling in love at first sight! Yet
they often do. The girl was pleased with him, and she still likes
him."

"Likes him, does she?" drawled Burr, sarcastically, and lifted a
gherkin to his teeth.

"Yes, don't you like him?"

"Very much."

He bit the pickle quite savagely.

"What do you think of _her_?"

"It cannot be the fault of the male sex that she remains single."

"Some women are not i