luence, his
purse and his property at Burr's disposal. Before the clock struck
five he was out of bed, and the quavering of his flute disturbed the
colonel's slumber. No sooner was breakfast over than the conference on
the land-purchase project was resumed, Madam Blennerhassett
participating.

"You propose," said Blennerhassett, "to buy forty thousand acres for
forty thousand dollars, and you have the pledge of Mr. Clarke, of New
Orleans, and of your son-in-law, Governor Alston, that they will stand
surety for you. I will gladly make a third with these gentlemen."

The offer was graciously accepted as a trust betokening future
transactions of mutual profit. Further confidential discourse ensued,
and it was agreed that Mr. Blennerhassett should assist the cause by
writing, under a pseudonym, a series of essays for the Ohio _Gazette_,
on the commercial interests of the West, indirectly favoring disunion.

Burr congratulated himself on the successful issue of his second
campaign in the Enchanted Ground. He had won the islanders. Promising
to keep the Blennerhassetts apprised of the progress of his plans, he
bade old and young good-bye, and departed for Philadelphia, the
lucky-stone in his breast pocket.

XIV. A LARGESS OF CORONETS.

The story leaps over a period of nine months. The winter of 1805-6
disrobed the trees on Blennerhassett's Island and spring again
reclothed them. Wild violets once more sprinkled the glades and a new
flowering of rosebushes in the garden fronting the house increased the
fame and complacency of Peter Taylor. Another July plumed the maize,
where the plough had obliterated Fort Byle. At last came imperial
August, and with the glowing month returned Aaron Burr, his designs
ripened, his enthusiasm culminant. The silent wheelwork of conspiracy
had now been in operation for upward of a year. The arch complotter
was of buoyant heart and happy tongue, for he came accompanied by
Theodosia, the loved associate in whom he reposed absolute trust, the
good familiar whom he invoked when all other spirits failed him.

Theodosia made no enemies. Her beauty attracted and her amiability
retained the devotion of men, the friendship of women. Nature had
lavished upon her those rare, delicate, elusive qualities which go to
make up that top flower of evolution, the woman of fascination, a
creature indefinable, like poetry. In New York, city and State, she
was a reigning belle, caressed by society; she