'In this intimate gathering it docs no harm to state openly what most of you know already. It will be public knowledge on Independence Day...'—'Fortunate acquisition of territory without firing a shot...'—'Our excellent sister nation, France...'—'Spain, our illustrious neighbor to the south..'. Aaron, sure of his listener, murmured to Casa Yrujo, 'He is like a cat with a dish of cream, is he not, my lord?'

The Spaniard's lips curled. 'But this tho-called purchase it not permitted by your Constitution. He ignores that. It is illegal from beginning to end. Thpain will not allow this. There will be war.'

4 You think so?' said Aaron softly, hoping to draw more interesting indiscretions. But the Marquis veiled his eyes and tapped the head of his cane in angry silence.

Jefferson's voice continued: 'It has long been my ambition to send an expedition through the westward lands to the other sea. It has been tried three times, only to end in failure. Now that the title to these lands has most fortunately devolved on us, I feel such an expedition to be of unparalleled importance. The new expedition has been organized, and this time I think it will not fail, for it will be led by two intrepid young men who perfectly understand the nature of their undertaking: my aide and secretary, Captain Lewis, and his friend and comrade at arms, Captain William Clark, who will join him later'. There was a polite buzz of interest. Everyone looked at Lewis, except Theodosia. She sat rigid, staring at the tablecloth.

'Ladies and gentlemen,' said Jefferson, rising, 'I give you a toast to the success of the expedition, and to its leader.'

He sent the reddening Merne a smile of sincere affection, and went on: 'He is of courage undaunted, possessing a firmness and perseverance of purpose which nothing but impossibilities can divert from its direction; careful as a father to those committed to his charge, and yet steady in the maintenance of order and discipline; intimate with the Indian character, customs, and principles; habituated to the hunting life; honest, disinterested, liberal; of sound understanding, and of a fidelity to truth so scrupulous that whatever he shall report will be as certain as if seen by ourselves.

'Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Captain Meriwether Lewis!'

The company murmured congratulations and drank, while Aaron thought, All this for a country bumpkin of a backwoodsman who is about to be swallowed up forever in the wilderness. Good riddance to him! He was annoyed by the flash of what looked like pure hero-worship that he had seen on Theodosia's face. And he found to his surprise that he had not overestimated his previous dislike of Lewis. It had surged back with full force.