father's freedom!_"

"I cannot promise that; but all that I can do I will."

"Were my father guilty, that would be the act of a noble mind. But
how? You are Mr. Jefferson's friend, not the friend of Aaron Burr. All
the world knows that."

"Precisely. All the world knows that, or thinks it does. It thinks it
knows that Mr. Jefferson is implacable. But suppose all the world were
set to wondering? I am just wondering myself if it would be right to
suborn a juryman, like John Randolph of Roanoke!"[6]

[Footnote 6: The import of the visit of Governor Lewis and Mrs. Alston
to the court-room during the Burr trial is better conveyed if there be
held in mind the personality of that eccentric and extraordinary man,
so prominent in the history of America and the traditions of
Virginia--John Randolph of Roanoke. Irascible, high-voiced,
high-headed, truculent, insolent, vitriolic--yet gallant, courteous,
kind, just, and fair; the enemy and the friend in turn of almost every
public man of his day; truckling to none, defiant of all, sure to do
what could not be predicted of any other man--it was always certain
that John Randolph of Roanoke would do what he liked, and do what--for
that present time--he fancied to be just.

Now the ardent adherent, again the bitter caluminator of Jefferson, it
would be held probable that John Randolph of Roanoke would do what he
fancied Thomas Jefferson had not asked him to do, or had asked him not
to do. But the shrewd old man at Washington spoke advisedly when he
said that John Randolph of Roanoke would try the Burr case in the
jury-room, and himself preside as judge, counsel, and jury all in
one!]

"That is impossible. What do you mean?"

"I mean this. This afternoon you and I will go into the trial-room
together. I have not yet attended a session of the court. Today I will
hand you to your seat in full sight of the jury box."

"You--give your presence to one who is now a social pariah? The ladies
of Richmond no longer speak to me. But to what purpose?"

"Perhaps to small purpose. I cannot tell. But let us suppose that I go
with you, and that we sit there in sight of all. I am known to be the
intimate friend of Mr. Jefferson. _Ergo_----"

"_Ergo_, Mr. Jefferson is not hostile to us! And you would do
that--you would take that chance?"

"For you."

And he did--for her! That afternoon all the crowded court-room saw the
beadle make way for two persons of importance. One was a tall, grave,