Burr and his
friends!"

"All that your excellency has said tallies entirely with our own
beliefs," rejoined Burr. "But what then? What is the condition?"

"Simply this--we must have Captain Lewis with us and not against us. I
want that man! I must have him. That expedition must never proceed. It
must be delayed, stopped. Money was raised twenty years ago in London
to make this same sort of journey across the continent, but the plan
fell through. Revive it now, and we English still may pull it off. But
it will be too late if Captain Lewis goes forward now--too late for
us--too late for you and your plan, Mr. Burr. I want that man! We must
have him with us!"

Burr sat in silence for a time.

"You open up a singular train of thought for me, your excellency,"
said he at length. "He does belong with us, that young Virginian!"

"You know him, then?" inquired the British minister. "That is to say,
you know him well?"

"Perfectly. Why should I not? He nearly was my son-in-law. Egad! Give
him two weeks more, and he might have been--he got the news of my
daughter's marriage just too late. It hit him hard. In truth, I doubt
if he ever has recovered from it. They say he still takes it hard.
Now, you ask me how to get that man, your excellency. There is perhaps
one way in which it could be accomplished, and only one."

"How, then?" inquired Merry.

"The way of a woman with a man may always be the answer in matters of
that sort!" said Aaron Burr.

The three sat and looked each at the other for some time without
comment.

"I find Colonel Burr's brain active in all ways!" began Senor Yrujo
dryly. "Now I confess that he goes somewhat in advance of mine."

"Listen," said Aaron Burr. "What Mr. Jefferson said of Captain Lewis
is absolutely true--his will has never been known to relax or weaken.
Once resolved, he cannot change--I will not say he does not, but that
he cannot."

"Then even the unusual weapon you suggest might not avail!" Mr.
Merry's smile was not altogether pleasant.

"Women would listen to him readily, I think," remarked Yrujo.

"Gallant in his way, yes," said Burr.

"Then what do you mean by saying something about the way of a woman
with a man?"

"Only that it is the last remaining opportunity for us," rejoined
Aaron Burr. "The appeal to his senses--of course, we will set that
aside. The appeal to his chivalry--that is better! The appeal to his
ambition--that is less, but might be used. The appeal to