Part 10 (1/2)
”All that your excellency has said tallies entirely with our own beliefs,” rejoined Burr ”But what then? What is the condition?”
”Siainst us I want that man! I must have him That expedition must never proceed It o in London to make this same sort of journey across the continent, but the plan fell through Revive it now, and we English still oes forward now--too late for us--too late for you and your plan, Mr Burr I want that man! We must have him with us!”
Burr sat in silence for a tiht forwith us, that young Virginian!”
”You know him, then?” inquired the British minister ”That is to say, you know him well?”
”Perfectly Why should I not? He nearly was ht have been--he got the news of e just too late It hit him hard In truth, I doubt if he ever has recovered from it They say he still takes it hard
Now, you ask et that man, your excellency There is perhaps one way in which it could be accomplished, and only one”
”How, then?” inquired Merry
”The way of a woman with a man may always be the answer in matters of that sort!” said Aaron Burr
The three sat and looked each at the other for some time without comment
”I find Colonel Burr's brain active in all ways!” began Senor Yrujo dryly ”Now I confess that he goes somewhat in advance of mine”
”Listen,” said Aaron Burr ”What Mr Jefferson said of Captain Lewis is absolutely true--his will has never been known to relax or weaken
Once resolved, he cannot change--I will not say he does not, but that he cannot”
”Then even the unusual weapon you suggest ether pleasant
”Women would listen to him readily, I think,” remarked Yrujo
”Gallant in his way, yes,” said Burr
”Then what do youabout the way of a wo opportunity for us,” rejoined Aaron Burr ”The appeal to his senses--of course, ill set that aside The appeal to his chivalry--that is better! The appeal to his aht be used The appeal to his syenerous with the woenerous with hiain you have another argument which we may claim as possible”
”You reason well,” said Merry ”But while entlen his expedition we are asking him to alter all his loyalty to his chief--and he will not do that Any appeal made to him must be to his honor or to his chivalry; otherwise it orse than hopeless He would no more be disloyal to my son-in-law, the lady's husband--in case it came to that--than he would be disloyal to the orders of his chief”
”Fie! Fie!” said Yrujo, serving himself ine froree with your first proposition, Colonel Burr, that the safest arguis sure,” rejoined Burr, flushi+ng ”That e--so under an appeal to his chivalry or his sense of justice His reasons must be honest to him They must be honest to her alike”
Burr added this last virtuously, and Mr Merry bowed deeply in return
”This is not only honorable of you, Colonel Burr, but logical”
”That ested Yrujo presently ”But so We cannot count the loss of men when nations seek to extend their boundaries and enhance their power Only the question is, at what sacrifice, through what appeal to his chivalry, can his assistance be carried to us?”
”We have left out of our accounting one factor,” said Burr after a time