“He will be attached to no cause,” said Gerry.  “He is, as you say, a politician.  There is not a germ of the statesman in him; nor of the honest man, either, unless I am deeply mistaken.  He is the only man of note in the country who has not one patriotic act to his credit.  He fought, but so did every adventurous youth in the country; and had there been anything more to his interest to do at the time, the Revolution could have taken care of itself.  But during all our trying desperate years since—­did he go once to Congress?  Did he interest himself in the Constitution, either at Philadelphia or Poughkeepsie?  What record did he make in the State Legislature during his one term of infrequent attendance?  While other men, notably Hamilton, of whom he betrays an absurd jealousy, have been neglecting their private interests in the public cause, he has been distinguishing himself as a femalist, and thinking of nothing else but making money at the bar.  I admit his brilliancy, his intrepidity, and the exquisite quality of his address, but I don’t believe that an honest man who comes into contact with him instinctively trusts him.”

“Oh, let us not indulge in such bitter personalities,” cried Mrs. Croix, who took no interest at that time in the temporary husband of her old age.  “Surely this coming legislation should compel every faculty.  What of the other debts?—­of funding?  Or, if it is still too soon to talk of these matters with equilibrium,” she added hastily, as Clinton turned purple again, “pray tell me that the great question of deciding upon a site for the Capital is nearing a solution.  It has been such a source of bitter agitation.  I wish it were settled.”

“The House may or may not pass this bill for ten years in Philadelphia, and the banks of the Potomac thereafter,” growled the Senator from North Carolina.  “The Federalists have the majority, and they are determined to keep the seat of government in the North, as they are determined to have their monarchical will in everything.  Madison hopes for some fortuitous coincidence, but I confess I hardly know what he means.”

Gerry laughed.  “When Madison takes to verbiage,” he said, “I should resort to a plummet and line.”

“Sir!” cried Randolph, limping toward the door in angry haste.  “Mr. Madison is one of the loftiest statesmen in the country!”

“Has been.  Centrifugal forces are in motion.”

“How everybody in politics does hate everybody else!” said Mrs. Croix, with a patient sigh.

XVIII

The next morning Mrs. Croix sent a peremptory summons to Hamilton.  Although at work upon his “Additional Estimates,” he responded at once.  The lady was combing her emotional mane in the sunshine before the mirror of her boudoir when he arrived, and the maid had been dismissed.

“Well, Egeria,” he said, smiling down upon this dazzling vision, “what is it?  What warning of tremendous import have you to deliver, that you rout a busy Secretary from his work at eleven in the morning?  I dared not loiter, lest your capricious majesty refuse me your door upon my next evening of leisure—­”