Joseph regretted having come, though he was relieved to see that the trial was progressing more favorably for Aaron than he had expected. He took himself home again, heartily sick of the whole matter, and more profoundly uneasy about his wife than he had ever been. She dwelt in some remote borderland where all human relationships—save one—seemed shadowy. In her feverish concentration on her father, even concern for her child seemed not to touch her. 'He is all right with Eleanore,' she said. 'He does not need me as I am needed here.'

And as for me, thought Joseph, she never considers my rights or needs at all. And he traveled alone back to his plantation.

On September first the long ordeal ended. It had, after all, been impossible to prove that Aaron had committed any overt act of war. That he had intended to do so, no one doubted, but in the absence of conclusive proof of an overt act, the law could not touch him.

Had it been given, even Meriwether Lewis's testimony would probably not have affected the outcome, because no act of war had occurred. The conspiracy had been checked before it had matured.

The verdict was unaccompanied by any demonstration. The courtroom was weary of the proceedings. From the moment of hearing Judge Marshall's calm summing-up, no one could fail to guess the result.

The jury took but a few minutes, then, shuffling their feet and staring at the floor, they returned sullenly to their box.

'Not guilty because not proved,' said the foreman, with ill grace.

Theo repressed a cry of joy, but Aaron leapt to his feet to protest against this ambiguous ' Scotch' verdict.

'Either I am guilty or I am not guilty!' he cried. 'I demand that the jury alter the wording of its verdict.'

A lengthy and bitter verbal battle ensued. The judge, jury, counsel, and Aaron all took part to a buzz of interested comment from the spectators. The high moment of acquittal petered out into something like a cat-fight. After an hour of acrimony, the jury consented to a compromise. The verdict was accepted as rendered, but entered on the record simply as 'Not guilty. '

Chief Justice Marshall bowed briefly to Aaron and disappeared. The jury trailed out, still grumbling, followed by the prosecuting attorneys.

Aaron's guards touched their caps, swung open the door of the prisoner's box, and he was free. He was congratulated, of course, Luther Martin clapping him on the back and emitting roars of triumph. His Richmond supporters wrung his hand and suggested immediate celebration at the tavern. Theo clung to him, laughing a bit hysterically, giddy with relief.