human
My son-in-law, Mr. Alston, of South Carolina--a very wealthy planter of that State--is in full accord with all my plans. My own resources have been pledged to their utmost, and he has been so good as to add largely from his own. I admit to you that I sought alliance with him deliberately when he asked my daughter's hand. He is an ambitious man, and perhaps he saw his way to the fulfillment of certain personal ambitions. He has contributed fifty thousand dollars to my cause. He will have a place of honor and profit in the new government which will be formed yonder in the Mississippi Valley.
gpt
So, then, began Yrujo,
human
We may as well be plain, rejoined Burr.
gpt
Time is short--you know that it is short. We all heard what Mr. Jefferson said--we know that if we are to take action it must be at once. That expedition must not succeed! If that wedge be driven through to the Pacific--and who can say what that young Virginian may do?--your two countries will be forever separated on this continent by one which will wage successful war on both. Swift action is my only hope--and yours.
human
Your funds, said Mr. Merry,
gpt
I pledge you as much more--on one condition that I shall name.
human
I undertake to contribute the same amount, said the envoy of Spain,
gpt
You named a certain condition, sir,
human
Yes, one entirely obvious.
gpt
What is it, then, your excellency?
human
You yourself have made it plain. The infernal ingenuity of yonder Corsican--curse his devilish brain!--has rolled a greater stone in our yard than could be placed there by any other human agency. We could not believe that Napoleon Bonaparte would part with Louisiana thus easily. No doubt he feared the British fleet at the mouth of the river--no doubt Spain was glad enough that our guns were not at New Orleans ere this. But, I say, he rolled that stone in our yard. If title to this Louisiana purchase is driven through to the Pacific--as Mr. Jefferson plans so boldly--the end is written now, Colonel Burr, to all your enterprises! Britain will be forced to content herself with what she can take on the north, and Spain eventually will hold nothing worth having on the south. By the Lord, General Bonaparte fights well--he knows how to sacrifice a pawn in order to checkmate a king!
gpt
Yes, your excellency, said Burr,
human
I agree with you, but----
gpt
And now my condition. Follow me closely. I say if that wedge is driven home--if that expedition of Mr. Jefferson's shall succeed--its success will rest on one factor. In short, there is a man at the head of that expedition who must fight with us and not against us, else my own interest in this matter lacks entirely. You know the man I have in mind.
human
That young man, Colonel Burr, will go through! I know his kind. Believe me, if I know men, he is a strong man. Let that man come back from his expedition with the map of a million square miles of new American territory hanging at his belt, like a scalp torn from his foes--and there will be no chance left for Colonel Burr and his friends!
gpt
All that your excellency has said tallies entirely with our own beliefs, rejoined Burr.
human
But what then? What is the condition?
gpt
Simply this--we must have Captain Lewis with us and not against us. I want that man! I must have him. That expedition must never proceed. It must be delayed, stopped. Money was raised twenty years ago in London to make this same sort of journey across the continent, but the plan fell through. Revive it now, and we English still may pull it off. But it will be too late if Captain Lewis goes 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!
human
You open up a singular train of thought for me, your excellency, said he at length.
gpt
He does belong with us, that young Virginian!
human
You know him, then? inquired the British minister.
gpt
That is to say, you know him well?
human
Perfectly. Why should I not? He nearly was my son-in-law. Egad! Give him two weeks more, and he might have been--he got the news of my daughter's marriage 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 me how to get that man, your excellency. There is perhaps one way in which it could be accomplished, and only one.
gpt
How, then?
human
The way of a woman with a man may always be the answer in matters of that sort!
gpt
I find Colonel Burr's brain active in all ways! began Señor Yrujo dryly.
human
Now I confess that he goes somewhat in advance of mine.
gpt
Listen, said Aaron Burr.
human
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.
gpt
Then even the unusual weapon you suggest might not avail!
human
Women would listen to him readily, I think,
gpt
Gallant in his way, yes,
human
Then what do you mean by saying something about the way of a woman with a man?
gpt
Only that it is the last remaining opportunity for us, rejoined Aaron Burr.
human
The appeal to his senses--of course, we will set that aside. The appeal to his chivalry--that is better! The appeal to his ambition--that is less, but might be used. The appeal to his sympathy--the wish to be generous with the woman who has not been generous with him, for the reason that she could not be--here again you have another argument which we may claim as possible.
gpt
You reason well, said Merry.
human
But while men are mortal, yonder, if I mistake not, is a gentleman.
gpt
Precisely, said Burr.
human
If we ask him to resign 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 were worse 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.
gpt
Fie! Fie! said Yrujo, serving himself with wine from a decanter on the table.
human
All men are mortal. I agree with your first proposition, Colonel Burr, that the safest argument with a man--with a young man especially, and such a young man--is a woman--and such a woman!
gpt
One thing is sure, rejoined Burr, flushing.
human
That man will succeed unless some woman induces him to change--some woman, acting 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.
gpt
This is not only honorable of you, Colonel Burr, but logical.
human
That means some sort of sacrifice for him, suggested Yrujo presently.
gpt
But some one is sacrificed in every great undertaking. 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?
human
We have left out of our accounting one factor,
gpt
What, then?
human
One factor, I repeat, we have overlooked, said Burr.
gpt
That is the wit of a woman! I am purposing to send as our agent with him no other than my daughter, Mrs. Alston. There is no mind more brilliant, no heart more loyal, than hers--nor any soul more filled with ambition! She believes in her father absolutely--will use every resource of her own to upbuild her father's ambitions.[2] Now, women have their own ways of accomplishing results. Suppose we leave it to my daughter to fashion her own campaign? There is nothing wrong in the relations of these two, but at table today I saw his look to her, and hers to him in reply. We are speaking in deep and sacred confidence here, gentlemen. So I say to you, ask no questions of me, and let me ask none of her. Let me only say to her: 'My daughter, your father's success, his life, his fortune--the life and fortune and success of your husband as well--depend upon one event, depend upon you and your ability to stop yonder expedition of Captain Meriwether Lewis into the Missouri country!'