Señor Yrujo helped himself to a brimming glass of his own wine.
"I say that Western country is ours," he still insisted, warming to his oration now. "Suppose, under coercion, our sovereign did cede it to Napoleon, who claims it now? Does Spain not govern it still? Do we not collect the revenues? Is not the whole system of law enforced under the flag of Spain, all along the great river yonder? Possession, exploration, discovery--those are the rights under which territories are annexed. France has the title to that West, but we hold the land itself--we administer it. And never shall it go from under our flag, unless it be through the act of stronger foreign powers. Spain will fight!"
"Will Spain fight?" demanded a deep and melodious voice. It was that of Aaron Burr who spoke now, half in query, half in challenge. "Would Spain fight--and would Great Britain, if need were and the time came?"
He spoke to men heated with wine, smarting under social indignity, men owning a hurt personal vanity.
"Our past is proof enough," said Merry proudly.
Yrujo needed no more than a shrug.
"Divide and conquer?" Burr went on, looking at them, and raising an eyebrow in query.
They nodded, both of them. Burr looked around. His daughter and Meriwether Lewis were oblivious. He saw the young man's eyes, somber, deep, fixed on hers; saw her gazing in return, silent, troubled, fascinated.
One presumes that it was at this moment--at the instant when Aaron Burr, seeing the power his daughter held over young Meriwether Lewis, and the interest he held for her, turned to these foreign officials at his left--at that moment, let us say, the Burr conspiracy began.
"Divide that unknown country, the West, and how long would this republic endure?" said Aaron Burr.
The noise of the banquet now rose about them. Voices blended with laughter; the wine was passing; awkwardness and restraint had given way to good cheer. In a manner they were safe to talk.
"What?" demanded Aaron Burr once more. "Could a few francs transfer all that marvelous country from Spain to France? That were absurd. By what possible title could that region yonder ever come to this republic? It is still more absurd to think that. Civilization does not leap across great river valleys. It follows them. You have said rightly, Señor Yrujo. To my mind Great Britain has laid fair grasp upon the upper West; and Spain holds the lower West, with which our statesmen have interested themselves of late. By all the rights of conquest, discovery, and use, gentlemen, Great Britain's traders have gained for her flag all the territory which they have reached on their Western trading routes. I go with you that far."