Mrs. Alexander Hamilton came up first, stepping lightly as a girl despite her eight children. She kissed Theo on both cheeks, wishing her many happy returns of the day. Her tall daughter, Angelica, followed more sedately, her melancholy little face already shadowed by the insanity that was later to claim her. Then General Hamilton himself bowed low over Theo's hand.

Theo smiled brightly at his compliments, disguising perfectly the feeling of dislike and fear he always gave her. No reason for it, she knew. He and Aaron were political opponents and had had several bitter public skirmishes, but that was true of many other men whom she heartily liked. Besides, Aaron and Hamilton were friendly enough in private, and called each other by their Christian names. They were rather alike, too, both short men, fastidious and exquisitely dressed, both great gallants with the ladies. General Hamilton this evening was particularly splendid in violet brocade, his sandy hair lightly powdered in the fashion of the Federalists.

'What a very fine bauble you're wearing, Theo,' he said, showing his white teeth. 'It very nearly rivals the brilliance of your eyes.'

'Father gave it to me this morning——'

'Ah—your father is ever one to lavish beauty upon beauty'. He spoke smoothly, but she saw a glint in his pale eyes.

One more count against Burr, he thought, as he turned away. Insane extravagance coupled with chicanery. Very like, this ridiculous jewel had been paid for with money swindled from the people in Burr's fictitious water company. If it had been paid for at all. The slippery scoundrel! He must at all costs be checked before he ruined the country with his plunderings and intrigues. God forbid that there should be a chance of his snatching the Presidency. Jefferson was bad enough—but Burr would be monstrous.

He settled himself in a corner and examined the company. Half the town was there. Livingstons, Swartwouts, Morrises and Sedgwicks, Bartows and Prevosts, these latter relatives of the late Mrs. Burr. There was pretty little Katie Brown talking to Burr's protégé, young Vanderlyn, and a handful of young bucks around her too.

He could not honestly object to these guests: they were natural enough selections; but why must Burr ever surround himself with Frenchmen? He glared at the Comte de Joliette : the fellow was rouged and befrilled like a woman; and why the inclusion of the du Pont de Nemours brothers with their wives? They had barely landed and spoke almost no English, and they were of no importance whatsoever.

Hamilton disliked foreigners, and grumpily helped himself to punch in anticipation of a dull evening.