Evening star., 1924-02-04
CHAPTER vi.
The Great Conspiracy.

The simplicity dinner was at an
end. Released by the Presidents
withdrawal, the crowd-it could be
called little else-broke from the
table. The anteroom filled with
struggling guests, excited, gesticulat-
ing, exclaiming.
Meriwether Lewis. anxious only to
escape from his social duties that he
might rejoin his chief, felt a soft
hand on his arm and turned. Theo-
dosia Aston was looking up at him.
DO you forget your friends so
soon? 1 must add my good wishes.
1t was. splendid. what Mr.. Jefferson
said-and 1T was true!"
Il wish it might be true said the
young man. Il wish 1 might be
worthy of such a man."
You are worthy of us ALL" return
ed TheodoSia.
People are kind to the condemned"
said he, sententiously.
close to the others of the diplomatic
party who had sat in company at ta-
BILE. The usual crush of those clam
oring for their carriages had begun.
My DEAR" said Mr.. Merry to his
irate spouse, II shall. if Mrs. Alston
will permit, ask you to take her up in
your carriage with you to her home.
L am to go with Mr.. Burr"
The Spanish minister made similar
excuse to his own wife. Thus Theo-
for the second time that day.
1t was late conference, the one
held that night at the home of the
Vice President of the United States
Burr, cool. calculating. always in
hand, sat and weighed many matters
well before he committed himself be-
yond repair. His keen mind saw now
and seized the advantage for which
he waited.
You say right, gentlemen, both of
you he began, leaning forward. 81
went to the White House again.
Should / ever do so again." blazed
the Spanish minister. IT will take my
own wife in to dinner on my own arm,
and place her at the head of the table
where she belongs. 1t was an insult
to my sovereign that we received to-
"As much myself. sir." said Mr..
Merry, his brows contracted. his face
flushed still with anger. "I shall
know how to answer the next invita-
tion which comes from Mr.. jefferson
/ shall ask him whether or not there is
to be any repetition Of this sort of
thing
During the following winter Mr..
Merry had opportunity to fulfill his
dent again invited him to dine, in the
following words:
Thomas Jefferson asks the favor
Of Mr.. Merry to dine with a small
party of friends on Monday, the 18th,
at half past three"
Mr.. Merry, still smarting all these
months, stood on his dignity and ad-
dressed his reply to the Secretary of
State. Reviewing at some length what
seemed to him important events, he
added:
"If Mr.. Merry should be mistaken
as to the meaning of Mr.. Jefferson's
note, and 1t should prove that the in :
vitation is designed for him in a pub
lie capacity, he trusts that Mr.. JEFF
ferson will feel equally that it must
be out Of his power to accept it with
out receiving previously, through the
channel of the Secretary of State, the
necessary formal assurance of the
Presidents determination to observe
toward him those niceties of distinc-
tion which have heretofore been
shown by the executive government
of the United States to the persons
who have been accredited as our
majesty's ministers.
Mr.. Merry has the honor to re-
quest Of Mr.. Madison to lay this ex-
planation before the President and
to accompany it with the strongest as
surance of his highest respect and con-
sideration.