'Of course he will,' she answered, smiling. Oh, why don't I hear from him? The constant question tortured her.

Unconsciously she turned from Gampy, stared unseeing down the avenue of moss-draped live-oaks, trying by force of will to pierce through the barrier of space.

Suddenly she heard the gallop of hoofs and saw the headlong approach of a horse and rider. For one ecstatic, unreasonable moment her heart leapt with relief.

But it wasn't Aaron, of course. It was Joseph, returning from a trip to Georgetown. She had scarcely time to feel surprise at the fury with which he threw himself from his horse, yelling with even greater than normal impatience for a stable-boy to take the reins. He stamped up the steps, thrusting a newspaper at her. 'Read that!'

She stared at him stupidly. His swarthy face was purple. His whole stocky body was trembling. Gampy gave a little cry and shrank into her skirts, hiding his face from his father's scowl.

'Read it, can't you?' shouted Joseph, directing a shaking finger at the paper in her hand.

She raised the newspaper, the Richmond Enquirer, March 17th, 1807.

' What has a Richmond paper to do with me?' she whispered.

' Damnation take it! Look here! Can't you read?' Through his angry rudeness she heard the note of fear.

She stared at the jiggling lines of print.

Last night the traitor, Aaron Burr, arrived in Richmond to await trial. He was in the custody of Colonel Nicholas Perkins and his band of courageous men, who have conveyed him on the perilous journey northward from Alabama where he was apprehended. He will shortly be lodged in the county gaol. Many of his fellow conspirators are also being brought to Justice. It is to be hoped that none of these will be allowed to forego their just deserts.

She raised her eyes slowly. The white porch columns tipped together, veered round and round in slow, sickening lurches. Her fingers contracted on the newspaper, crumpling it convulsively.

'It isn't true! It's another one of their lies.'

'It isn't true,' he mimicked savagely. 'Nothing is ever true for you, unless you wish it so, or your father cither. He's caught, my lady, d'ye understand that? Caught and jailed and soon to be hanged. This time he can't wriggle out as he did before.'

He raised his riding-crop and brought it down with a whistling snap onto the porch railing. Flecks of white paint exploded from the gash.

Gampy gave a cry of terror and began sobbing. Theo gently pushed him from her. 'Run away, dear. Go quickly'. As the child stumbled out, she turned on Joseph. 'How dare you speak to me like that of my father! How dare you!'

'How dare I!' he bellowed. 'How dare you try to involve me in his treasonable plots and harebrained schemes! Thank God, my judgment was never impaired by his foul machinations.'