'Look around you, fair lady,' said the Dane, pushing his flirtatious pug face closer to hers. 'Potted flowers, birds, one would think oneself in a conservatory were it not for the ingenious mechanical contraptions. Look—sec, the wall is opening!'

Indeed, the wall was opening or rather revolving. Jefferson had introduced an enormous 'lazy Susan' between the kitchen and dining-room. At the touch of a spring it revolved, to the accompaniment of creakings and rattlings, and disclosed shelves full of laden platters and dishes, steaming from the stove.

'I believe he has many such inventions,' continued Pedersen. 'They say there is a species of lift or elevator which runs on pulleys, and is strong enough to carry a man up two or three flights. Though this I haven't seen.'

'How very interesting,' observed Theo tepidly. Why didn't the man eat his dinner? What did she care for the President's contrivances, or his birds, or his horticulture, when the precious moments were passing; Meme sat so elose to her, and yet they could not get a word with each other!

The dinner was good and the wines excellent. Mr. Jefferson's passion for plainness stopped short at the culinary de partment. Rice soup was followed by platters of beef, ham, real, mutton cutlets, turkey, fried eggs, and a new Italian dish called 'macaroni' pleasantly flavored with onions and checse. This delicacy at last silenced Pedersen, who subsided with his mouth full. Theo pushed back her untouched plate and turned again to Merne. He had been waiting for her, watching the pure oval of her averted cheek, the distracting little tendrils of auburn that escaped from her green bandeau and nestled against the whiteness of her neck. He, too, made no pretense of eating.

'Theo,' he whispered, 'this is a hideous farce. I must see you alone—once more.'

Her face went white. She raised frightened eyes. 'Once more,' she whispered. 'What do you mean? I'll slip out somehow. It's hard now Father is here, but I'll manage. We can meet by the river again——'

'No, my darling'. His lips barely moved. 'We cannot. We were seen. By one of Jefferson's servants. I managed to shut his mouth, I think. But there might be others. I cannot let you run the risk. Besides, I——'

He and everyone else at the table except Theo suddenly stiffened and craned forward. Jefferson was speaking in a raised voice, designed to include them all. From the depths of a devastating misery Theo heard phrases, without understanding or caring about them.