minent persons
now in our confidence and ready to act at a word from me, I could name
scores, besides yourself and Governor Alston. Among our confederates
are Commodore Truxton, the British Minister at Washington, and the
Catholic Bishop of New Orleans."

"Have you considered," asked Blennerhassett, "what might be the
condition of our venture, in case General Wilkinson fails to second
your designs against Mexico?"

"Even that contingency, I have taken into account, though we do
Wilkinson injustice to suppose it possible that he will fail us. Our
plans are excellent. If the Mexican string should break--as it will
not--the Wachita string, which you helped to twist, will send a sure
arrow to the mark of our high calling. Failure, my dear sir, is not
possible. The gods invite to glory and to fortune."

In collocutions of this tenor, Burr, adapting himself to the moods of
his sedate ally, unfolded his purposes. The philosopher heard,
acquiesced, and accepted the part assigned to him in the execution of
the great business. Blennerhassett's temperament, however, was such as
to check, in some degree, the full flow of Burr's exuberant speech. It
was always with constraint and reservation that the latter
communicated himself to the head of the house. Not so when in familiar
converse with Madam Blennerhassett and Theodosia; uninfluenced by the
dampening presence of the husband, he poured out his innermost
cogitations, assurances, optimistic surmises. The three were in
perfect accord. One evening they were seated in the seclusion of the
library. The children had gone to sleep, upstairs, Harman and Gampy
under the same chintz canopy. Mr. Blennerhassett, detained in Marietta
on an errand relating to the affairs of the Wachita company, probably
would not reach home before morning. Theodosia asked for a sentimental
ballad.

"Not a love-song," said Burr, "but something heroic--a battle hymn or
a stirring march."

"Will you both agree to a compromise and accept some half-romantic,
half-pious verses which I composed and set to music? The colonel will
remember the incident which suggested the lines."

The harp was brought in from the adjoining room and Mrs.
Blennerhassett sang her original lay with the following chorus:

"No longer in Enchanted Ground
Thy lingering feet delay;
Beulah's borders lie beyond,
Rise, pilgrim, and away!"

"Bravo! Well sung and well said!" Burr emphasized this verdict by
clapping h