'This is indeed an honor,' he purred. 'I trust you have recovered, Madam, from your indisposition in the courtroom. Though I see that you are still so weak that you need an escort.'

She was frightened by the venom in his tone. He who could always control his feelings, when that control was to his advantage, must not give way to hostility now. She knew that he had always disliked Lewis, but she had no conception of the bitterness of his jealousy. How could she, when he did not admit it to himself?

But Merne understood. The pattern that seemed to change had yet been inexorably laid down during their first clash in Vauxhall Gardens. It had not changed.

Theo stood uncertainly between them, as she had stood then, and their hatred for each other crackled past her. She had been a fool to bring Meme here without first warning her father, she realized too late. How could she say to him, in the presence of that tall, quietly disdainful man: 'Father, show him your goodness, your true nobility. Make him understand that you are incapable of wrongdoing. Win him over with your golden persuasive tongue, as you have won so many people.'

Aaron moved, and reseated himself. 'To just exactly what am I indebted for the very great honor of this visit? The pleasure, perhaps, of gaping at an interesting prisoner, or simply that you cannot tear yourself for one moment from the company of Mrs. Alston?'

'No!' cried Theo sharply. 'Father, don't talk that way. Captain Lewis has some—some sort of evidence, or thinks he has. He felt he must testify. But I knew, if he could speak with you, you would make him realize that he must have been misinformed.'

'I have no interest in any evidence which this gentleman may wish to proffer.'

' But it will injure you! He is to be Governor of Louisiana, he is Jefferson's friend. The jury will listen.'

Aaron lashed out at her with sudden fury. 'And you, too, listen to what he says, don't you, my dear? This Governor of Louisiana, this friend of Jefferson's, he is no doubt a far more seductive subject to listen to than a disgraced traitor, an emperor without an empire, the murderer of Alexander Hamilton, the betrayer of his country. You had better attach yourself somehow to the tail of this new comet. It's unfortunate that you happen to be married, is it not? Yet, with patience and ingenuity, perhaps even that obstacle may be surmounted.'

She shrank, clutching blindly at the back of a chair.

Meme, white with disgust, turned on her too. 'How can you continue to idolize such a man——'