ent; it is for thirty
days, and will be extended to thirty more. We have many English ships in
our ports. No one of them can leave."

"That ought to bring them to their senses," said Rene.

"It may," returned Hamilton.

"And what, sir, of the treaty with England?"

Hamilton smiled. "I was to have been sent, but there was too much
opposition, and now, as I think, wisely, Chief-Justice Jay is to go to
London."

"Ah, Mr. Hamilton, if there were but war with England,--and there is
cause enough,--some of us poor exiles might find pleasant occupation."

The Secretary became grave. "I would do much, yield much, to escape war,
Vicomte. No man of feeling who has ever seen war desires to see it
again. If the memory of nations were as retentive as the memory of a
man, there would be an end of wars."

"And yet, sir," said Rene, "I hardly see how you--how this
people--endure what you so quietly accept."

"Yes, yes. No man more than Washington feels the additions of insult to
injury. If to-day you could give him a dozen frigates, our answer to
England would not be a request for a treaty which will merely secure
peace, and give us that with contempt, and little more. What it
personally costs that proud gentleman, our President, to preserve his
neutral attitude few men know."

Rene was pleased and flattered by the thoughtful gravity of the
statesman's talk.

"I see, sir," he said. "There will be no war."

"No; I think not. I sincerely hope not. But now I must go. My
compliments to your mother; and I am glad to see you so well."

As he went out, he met Schmidt in the hall. "Ah, why did you not prevent
this duel?" he said.

"No man could, sir. It is, I fear, a business to end only when one of
them dies. It dates far back of the blow. Some day we will talk of it,
but I do not like the outlook."

"Indeed." He went into the street thoughtful. In principle opposed to
duels, he was to die in the prime of life a victim to the pistol of
Burr.

The pleasant May weather and the open air brought back to De Courval
health and the joys of life. The girl in the garden heard once more his
bits of French song, and when June came with roses he was able to lie on
the lower porch, swinging at ease in a hammock sent by Captain Biddle,
and it seemed as if the world were all kindness. As he lay, Schmidt
read to him, and he missed only Margaret, ordered out to the country in
the care of Aunt Gainor, while, as he grew better, he had the str