a
brief interview alone with your Excellency, or, rather, may I ask also
for Mr. Hamilton to be present?' 'With your permission, Mr. Randolph,'
the President said, and showed us into a small side room. There I told
him."

"Told him what?" asked Margaret.

"Your husband may tell you, my dear, when you are married. I may as well
permit it, whether I like it or not. You would get it out of him."

"I should," she said; "but--it is dreadful to have to wait."

"On our return, his Excellency said, 'Mr. Randolph, I am satisfied as
regards the correctness of the Vicomte de Courval's account of Mr.
Carteaux's treachery and of the vicomte's ignorance of his errand. Mr.
Gouverneur sends me by Mr. Schmidt a letter concerning the despatch.'

"Then Randolph asked quietly: 'Did he see it, sir?'

"'He knows that the vicomte delivered a packet of papers to the _Jean
Bart_.'

"'And without receipt for them or other evidence?'

"'Yes. It so seems.'

"'Then I regret to say that all we have heard appears to me, sir, to
leave the matter where it was.'

"'Not quite. Mr. Fauchet is out of office and about to go home.
Carteaux, as Mr. Hamilton can tell you, refused to be questioned, and
has sailed for France. Adet, the new minister, will not urge the matter.
You must pardon me, but, as it appears to me, an injustice has been
done.'

"Randolph said testily: 'It is by no means clear to me, and until we
hear of that despatch, it never will be.'

"This smileless old man said, 'I am not free to speak of what Mr.
Schmidt has confided to me, but it satisfies me fully.' Then he waited
to hear what Randolph would say."

"And he?" said Rene, impatient.

"Oh, naturally enough he was puzzled and I thought annoyed, but said, 'I
presume, Mr. President, it is meant that I ought to offer this young man
the position he forfeited?'

"'That, sir,' said the President, 'is for you to decide.'

"Then Mr. Hamilton, who can be as foxy as Jefferson, said in a careless
way, 'I think I should wait a little.'

"The moment he said that, I knew what would happen. Randolph said,
'Pardon me, Mr. Hamilton, I prefer to conduct the affairs of my
department without aid.' They love not one another, these two. 'I am of
the President's opinion. I shall write to the Vicomte de Courval.'

"Mr. Hamilton did seem to me to amuse himself. He smiled a little and
said: 'A pity to be in such a hurry. Time will make it all clearer.'
Randolph made no reply. You will hear