rd
Grenville after its capture, to make still further mischief. Having been
told the story of the wanderings of this fateful document, the Secretary
read it with amazement, and understood at once that it was meant by
Hammond to injure Randolph, whose dislike of the Jay treaty and what it
yielded to England was well known in London. Much disturbed by what he
gathered, Wolcott took away the long document, agreeing to give a
certified copy to Hammond, who, having been recalled, was well pleased
to wing this Parthian arrow.

The next day Wolcott showed it to his colleagues, Pickering and the
Attorney-General. As it seemed to them serious, they sent an urgent
message to the President, which brought back the weary man from his rest
at Mount Vernon. On his return, the President, despite Randolph's desire
for further delay, called a cabinet meeting, and with a strong
remonstrance against the provision clause which yielded the hated rights
of search, decided to ratify the treaty with England.

The next day he was shown the long-lost, intercepted Despatch No. 10.

Greatly disturbed, he waited for several days, and then again called
together his advisers, naming for Randolph a half-hour later.

On this, the 19th of August, De Courval, being at his desk, was asked to
see an express rider who had come with a report of Indian outrages on
the frontier. The Secretary of State having gone, as he learned, to a
cabinet meeting, De Courval made haste to find him, being well aware of
the grave import of the news thus brought. Arriving at the house of the
President, he was shown as usual into the drawing-room, and sat down to
wait among a gay party of little ones who were practising the minuet
with the young Custis children under the tuition of a sad-looking, old
_emigre_ gentleman. The small ladies courtesied to the new-comer, the
marquis bowed. The violin began again, and Rene sat still, amused.

Meanwhile in the room on the farther side of the hall, Washington
discussed with Pickering and Oliver Wolcott the fateful, intercepted
despatch. A little later Randolph entered the hall, and desiring De
Courval to wait with his papers, joined the cabinet meeting.

As he entered, the President rose and said, "Mr. Randolph, a matter has
been brought to my knowledge in which you are deeply concerned." He
spoke with great formality, and handing him Fauchet's despatch, added,
"Here is a letter which I desire you to read and make such explanation