ld and gleaming, something that
was not his father's nor his grandfather's, but his own, deadly but
markedly courageous. Cary's look was more masked, grave, and collected,
with the merest quiver of the upper lip. In the mind of each the curtain
strangely lifted, not upon Richmond or Fontenoy or the Court House at
Charlottesville, but upon a long past day and the Albemarle woods and
two boys gathering nuts together. This lasted but an instant, then Cary
spoke. "In that letter, Judge Roane, 'Aurelius' had no thought of Aaron
Burr. I doubt if in writing he meant to give to any image recognizable
face and form. I think that, very largely, he believed himself but
personifying the powers of evil and the tendencies thereto inherent in
the Democrat-Republican as in all human doctrine. If he builded better
than he knew, if he held the mirror up, if, in short, there's any whom
the cap fits"--He paused a moment, then said sternly, "Let the wearer,
whoever he may be, look to his steps!" and turned to face Rand. "Seeing
there is no name to divulge, there are of course no proofs of
faithlessness." He rose. "It is growing late, gentlemen, and I, for one,
am committed to Mrs. Ambler's party. Who goes towards the Eagle?"

There was a movement throughout the coffee room. It was full dark, home
beckoned, and a number besides Cary were pledged to the evening's
entertainment. From every table men were rising, gathering up their
papers, when Rand's voice, harsh, raised, and thick with passion, jarred
the room. "I hold, Mr. Cary, that not even to please his fine
imagination is a gentleman justified in publicly weaving caps of so
particular a description!"

Cary turned sharply. "Not even when he weaves it for a man of
straw?--your own expression, Mr. Rand."

"Even men of straw," answered the other thickly, "find sometimes a
defender. By God, I'll not endure it!"

"All this," said Cary scornfully,--"all this for the usual, the
familiar, the expected Federalist criticism of Republican precept and
practice! What, specifically, is it, Mr. Rand, that you'll not endure?"

"I'll endure," replied Rand, in a strained, monotonous, and menacing
voice, "no taunt from you."

As he spoke, he threw himself forward. "Have a care, sir!" cried Cary,
and flung out his arm. He had seen, and the men around had seen, the
intention of the blow. It was not struck. Amid the commotion that arose,
Rand suddenly, and with an effort so violent and so directed that i