Irving glanced at the prisoner. Well, whatever the truth of these particular charges against him, it was clear that Burr cared not a rap for the future of the United States. His vision was bounded by self-interest. True he had fought brilliantly in the war for freedom—but then so had many another young man from motives no more lofty than adventure and personal advancement.

I verily believe that Burr has not an ounce of patriotism, thought Irving, nor any deep emotions at all, except perhaps one.

He turned instinctively to look at Theodosia and uttered an exclamation of concern. Her color had faded into a ghastly white, her upper lip glistened, and, while her head fell forward, her small body slumped.

Irving sprang to his feet, but already a score of people had seen her plight. There was a buzz of sympathy. 'She's swooned, poor little thing,' said a voice, 'and no wonder. Such a strain, and in this heat.'

Two men carried her outside, and Aaron, who had also started forward without thought of his confinement, was pushed down by the two guards on either side of him. He bit his lips and, flinging back his head, saw Lewis's tall form hurrying through the door opposite.

For a moment his face contorted. His fingers clenched, they wound themselves in the ruffled white neckcloth at his throat. There was a sharp sound of tearing linen. The guards looked at their prisoner in astonishment. 'For sure he feels all this more than he lets on,' one of them whispered, and the other nodded.

The gavel sounded, the courtroom quieted. The crossexamination of a dull witness proceeded. Aaron once more became impassive. He did not look at the empty chair where his daughter had been sitting.

When Theodosia reached the air, her eyes opened. 'I'm all right now,' she murmured, struggling to hold her head up. 'But I think I will lie down for a little. Will somebody please call my carriage?'

'Your carriage is here, Mrs. Alston, and I will do myself the honor of seeing you home'. Lewis took her arm, dismissing the hovering spectators with a curt gesture of his chin. The carriage door shut them in.

'Merne,' she whispered, hardly yet daring to believe. 'Oh, Merne—I never thought to see you again.'

She had fainted for pure joy. From the instant of seeing him in the courtroom, she had lost realization of the trial, even of Aaron. Her long-submerged love had rushed upon her like a suffocating torrent. She had felt in that moment only—Thank God, he is alive. He is near me. He will help us. Everything will now be all right.

Lewis smiled grimly. 'I am hard to kill, Theodosia. I'm sorry I startled you so. I didn't think how unexpected my appearance would be to you.'