was
rare in her life of tranquil experiences, and nothing she had seen of
him prepared her for this outbreak. Of late, it is to be confessed, De
Courval had been a frequent guest of her thoughts, and what concerned
him began greatly to concern her. Something forbade her to ask of
Schmidt an explanation of what she had seen. Usually she was more frank
with him than with any one else, and why now, she thought, should she
not question him? But then, as if relieved by the decision, she
concluded that it was not her business, and put aside the curiosity, but
not completely the anxiety which lay behind it.

If she told her mother and asked of her what De Courval's behavior might
have meant, she was sure that her eagerness would be reproved by a
phrase which Mrs. Swanwick used on fitting occasions--"Thou shalt not
covet thy neighbor's secrets." Many things were to happen before the
girl would come to understand why, in the quiet of a May morning, a
rather reserved gentleman had of a sudden looked like a wild animal.

XIII

A cheering crowd escorted Genet to Oeller's Hotel. A few days later
Washington received the minister, De Ternant's successor, with a coldly
formal speech, and the envoy came away in wrath; for had he not seen in
the parlor of the President, medallions of decapitated Citizen Capet and
his family? His insolent demands for money owing to France, but not yet
due, and for a new and more liberal compact, are matters of history.
There were wild claims for the right of French consuls to condemn prizes
without intermediation of our courts, and yet more and more absurd
requests and specious arguments, to which Jefferson replied with
decision, but with more tenderness than pleased the Federalists.

When the privateer _Citizen Genet_ anchored off Market Street wharf, two
enlisted Americans on board were arrested, and the cabinet, being of one
opinion, the President ordered the privateer to leave. Genet appealed to
the Secretary of State for delay and against this inconceivable wrong to
a sister republic, and as the cabinet remained firm, and the democrats
raged, the town was for days on the verge of riot and bloodshed.

On the 27th of May, while on an errand for Mr. Wynne, about four in the
afternoon, De Courval saw the crowd going into Oeller's Hotel for a
great dinner in honor of Genet. On the steps stood a man waving the
tricolor. It was Carteaux. "_Mon Dieu!_" murmured De Courval, "shall I
get used to