He needed not to complete the sentence. Theodosia Alston knew well enough what was in her father's mind--knew well enough why they both were here. It was because she would not have come alone. And she knew that the burden of the work they had at heart must once more lie upon her shoulders. She once more must see Captain Meriwether Lewis--and it must be soon, if ever. He was reported as being ready to leave town at once upon his return from the Osage Indians.
But courtesy did not fail the young Virginian, and at last--although with dread in his own heart--within an hour of his actual departure, he called to pay his compliments to guests so distinguished as these, to a man so high in rank under the government which he himself served. He found it necessary to apologize for his garb, suited rather to the trail than to the drawing-room. He stood in the hall of the Chouteau home, a picture of the soldier of the frontier rather than the courtier of the capital.
His three-cornered military hat, his blue uniform coat--these made the sole formality of his attire, for his feet were moccasined, his limbs were clad in tight-fitting buckskins, and his shirt was of rough linsey, suitable for the work ahead.
"I ask your pardon, Colonel Burr," said he, "for coming to you as I am, but the moment for my start is now directly at hand. I could not leave without coming to present my duties to you and Mrs. Alston. Indeed, I have done so at once upon my return to town. I pray you carry back to Mr. Jefferson my sincerest compliments. Say to him, if you will, that we are setting forth with high hopes of success."
Formal, cold, polite--it was the one wish of Captain Lewis to end this interview as soon as he might, and to leave all sleeping dogs lying as they were.
But Aaron Burr planned otherwise. His low, deep voice was never more persuasive, his dark eye never more compelling--nor was his bold heart ever more in trepidation than now, as he made excuse for delay--delay--delay.
"My daughter, Mrs. Alston, will join us presently," he said. "So you are ready, Captain Lewis?"
"We are quite prepared, Colonel Burr. My men are on ahead two days' journey, camped at St. Charles, and waiting for me to overtake them. Dr. Saugrain, Mr. Chouteau, Mr. Labadie--one or two others of the gentlemen in the city--are so kind as to offer me a convoy of honor so far as St. Charles. We are quite flattered. So now we start--they are waiting for me at the wharf now, and I must go. All bridges are burned behind me!"