John Marshall's face, sternly imperturbable under the curled white wig, filled her with fear. A just man, Aaron had said, and not likely to be swayed by Jefferson's hostile pressure. Maybe not. But he was not sympathetic to the defense either. His cold judicial stare told her that. And where might he not conceive justice to lie? How could he or any man sift truth from the wicked welter of accusations brought forth by General Wilkinson and his cohorts?

And even if the judge was impartial, the jurymen all too obviously were not. When the counsel for the prosecution spoke, they leaned forward straining not to miss a syllabic, they nodded as though unconsciously, they murmured to each other, and at the mention of the words ' traitor,' 'conspiracy,' or ' treason' their eyes shifted to Aaron's impassive face with glances of collective hostility. When the lawyers for the defense countered, they relaxed and stared at the ceiling, either not listening at all or listening in but a bored manner.

Over and over again Luther Martin stumbled to his feet to check the interpretations which now one and now another of the witnesses conceived to have been Aaron's plans.

Once, General Wilkinson endeavored to bolster his tale of treason by alleging that he had heard that, besides desiring to split the Union and seize Mexico, Colonel Burr had conceived the idea of introducing 'some of his desperate followers into Washington and at a given signal seizing the government, appointing himself President, and possessing himself of the public monies deposited in federal banks.'

Here Aaron permitted himself a gentle smile and murmured to one of his counsel, Wickham, ' 'Tis a most ingenious idea. Would that I had thought of it!'

The young lawyer shushed him nervously, but at the same instant Luther Martin roared: 'Objection, Your Honor. May I once again point out that we arc not here concerned with General Wilkinson's fantasies. The prosecution is endeavoring to prove that the accused committed an overt act of war. Without this proof it cannot establish the crime of high treason. These chimeras which the witness fancies may have passed through my client's mind have no bearing whatsoever.'

Judge Marshall nodded gravely. 'That is quite true. The prosecution will confine itself to establishing that an act of war occurred.'

The courtroom rustled and settled back. It was stifling hot in the small room jammed with people. Theo felt her head whirl and a sensation of faintness. When the court declared a recess, she got up and forced her way through the jostling crowd to the air. Sun beat down on the Capitol steps. She leaned against the wall and wished helplessly for water. She dared not go far, unwilling to miss one moment of the proceedings. She shut her eyes.

'You look faint, Mrs. Alston,' said a cheerful male voice at her elbow. 'May I help you?'