"I have persuaded his excellency the minister from Great Britain to ride with us on one of our Washington mornings. He has been good enough to say--to say--that he enjoys it!"
Burr turned a quick glance upon the heavier figure at his side, with a half smile of badinage on his own face. Lewis bowed again, formally, and Anthony Merry answered with equal politeness and ceremony.
"Yes," said the envoy, "to be sure I recall the young man. I met him in the anteroom at the President's house."
Meriwether Lewis cast him a quick glance, but made no answer. He knew well enough the slighting estimate in which everything at Washington was held by this minister accredited to our government. Also he knew, as he might have said, something about the diplomat's visit at the Executive Mansion. For thus far the minister from Great Britain to Washington had not been able to see the President of the United States.
"And you are done your ride?" said Burr quickly, for his was a keen nose to scent any complication. "Tell me"--he lifted his own reins now to proceed--"you saw nothing of my daughter, Mrs. Alston? We missed her at the house, and have feared her abduction by some bold young Virginian, eh?"
His keen eye rested fairly on the face of the younger man as he spoke. The latter felt the challenge under the half mocking words.
"Yes," he replied calmly, "I have seen Mrs. Alston. I left her but now at the old mill, having a cup of coffee with the miller's wife. I had not time myself for a second, although Mrs. Alston honored me by allowing me to sit at her table for a moment. We met by accident, you see, as we both rode, a short time ago. I overtook her when it was not yet sunrise, or scarcely more."
"You see!" laughed Burr, as he turned to Merry. "Our young men are early risers when it comes to pursuit of the fair. I must ride at once and see to the welfare of my daughter. She may be weeping at losing her escort so soon!"
They all smiled in proper fashion. Lewis bowed, and, lifting his hat, passed on. Burr, as they parted, fell for just a half-moment into thought, his face suddenly inscrutable, as if he pondered something.
"There is the ablest man I have seen in Washington," blurted out Merry suddenly, apropos of nothing that had been said. "He has manners, and he rides like an Englishman."
"Say not so!" said Burr, laughing. "Better--he rides like a Virginian!"
"Very well; it is the same thing. The Virginians are but ourselves--this country is all English yet. And I swear--Mr. Burr, may we speak freely?--I cannot see, and I never shall see, what is the sense in all this talk of a new democracy of the people. Now, what men like these--like you----"