re glad that you have been pleased, Mr. Jefferson," said Lewis
simply.

"Pleased! Pleased! Say rather that I am saved! Say rather that this
country is saved! Had you proved disloyal to me--had you for any cause
turned back," he went on, "think what had been the result! What a
load, although you knew it not, was placed on your shoulders! Suppose
that you had turned back on the trail last year, or the summer
before--suppose you had not gotten beyond the Mandans--can you measure
the difference for this republic? Can you begin to see what
responsibility rested on you? Had you failed, you would have dragged
the flag of your country in the dust. Had you come back any time
before you did, then you might have called yourself the man who ruined
his President, his friend, his country!"

"And I nearly did, Mr. Jefferson!" broke out Meriwether Lewis. "Do
not praise me too much. I was tempted----"

The old man turned toward him, his face grave.

"You are honest! I value that above all in you--you are punctilious to
have no praise not honestly won. Listen, now!" He leaned toward the
young man, who sat beside him. "I know--I knew all along--how you were
tempted. She came here--Theodosia--the very day you left!"

Lewis nodded, mute.

"In some way, I knew, the conspirators fought against your success and
mine. I knew what agencies they intended to use against you--it was
this woman! Had you failed, I should have known why. I know many
things, whether or not you do. I know the character of Aaron Burr well
enough. He has been crazed, carried away by his own ambitions--God
alone knows where he would have stopped. He has been a man not
surpassed in duplicity. He would stop at nothing. Moreover, he could
make black look white. He did so for his daughter. She believed in him
absolutely. And knowing somewhat of his plans, I imagined that he
would use the attraction of that young lady for you--the power which,
all things considered, she might be supposed to possess with you. I
knew the depth of your regard for her, the deeper for its
hopelessness. And more than all, I knew the intentness and resolution
of your character. It was one motive against the other! Which was the
stronger? You were a young man--the hot blood of youth was yours, and
I know its power. Had the woman not been married, I should have lost!
You would have sold a crown for her. It was honor saved you--your
personal honor--that was what brought us success. No country is b