He had not, of course, presented exactly the same aims to each different group. There were many facets to the project: the colonization of the Bastrop lands on the Washita River suited some, the most timid; the disaffection and union of the Western Territory suited others; while only a very few had the vision and discretion to be trusted with knowledge of the ultimate goal, the liberation of Mexico from Spanish rule.

The Blennerhassetts were amongst the elect.

A thousand miles from civilization, sixteen miles from Marietta—still a rude frontier village—this enterprising Irishman had metamorphosed his hundred-and-forty-acre island into an elaborate estate that was part pleasure garden, part imitation of an English manor house, and part pure fantasy.

The virgin forest had been hewn and clipped into tortured figures. There were circles and mazes and arbors. There were artificial pools and several unsuccessful fountains where Blennerhassett's knowledge of physics had not been quite equal to his ambition. He had imported grass seed and fruit trees from England, and around an incredible expanse of lawn, peach, apricot, and pear trees stood as background to a formal garden.

In the center of the island he had built himself a twenty-two-room mansion which was actually three houses connected by covered porticoes. It was furnished, as Theo later discovered, with a luxurious abandon which far eclipsed Richmond Hill in its heyday. This creation had cost him sixty thousand dollars, not counting the purchase of the army of slaves whose unremitting labor had made his dream concrete.

As the Burr houseboat tied up to a wooden dock at the Ohio River island, Theo was even more amazed than Aaron had prophesied. The dock had been carved and painted into the semblance of a huge recumbent lion. And behind this monstrosity, upon a species of white-graveled plaza, there milled a horde of waving, cheering negroes. When Theo and Aaron descended the gangplank to a strip of red carpeting which had been laid across the lion and stretched into the distance toward the house, the negroes raised their right arms in a salute, then with obviously rehearsed precision pelted the arrivals with roses and daisies.

Two odd male and female figures detached themselves from the crowd. They came forward, bowing. Theo felt her hand seized and respectfully kissed. The lady before her executed a sweeping curtsy.

'Welcome, ma'am,' said Mrs. Blennerhassett, adding in a piercing whisper, 'We welcome our sovereigns in expectancy.'

Dazed and battling a desire to laugh, Theo threw Aaron a quick look. His eyes were twinkling, but there was also in them a gratified gleam. She heard Harman Blennerhassett address him as 'Sire' and saw Aaron bow response in a manner even more than usually courtly.

Her father took her arm and they progressed together up the carpeted strip, while Theo mustered all the imperial dignity which she could find at short notice.