Jefferson brought his brows down to the root of his nose. “‘Fools’ is not the word for an honest enthusiasm for liberty, sir.  I regret the present excitement—­its manifestations at this moment—­as much as anyone—­”

“Indeed?  I am amazed.  Who, then, is responsible for them?”

“Not I, sir.”

“Oh, let us have no more hypocrisy, at all events,” said Hamilton, contemptuously.  He had his wrath under control, but he suddenly determined to force the climax.  “If you had employed your secret pen to better purpose, or not employed it at all, there would not be a Jacobin club in the country; this ridiculous Frenchman, unencouraged by your private sympathy, by your assurances of my inability to withhold the residue of the debt, would have calmed down long since.  I accuse you here, deliberately and publicly, instead of writing private letters to the public, both because I have not your commanding talent for patient and devious ways, and because I wish you to declare, unequivocally, whether or not you purpose to continue this policy of obstruction.  Time presses.  We must act at once with regard to this Frenchman.  Reserve subterfuge for some more opportune time, and let us know what you intend to do.”

Jefferson looked with appeal at Washington, who usually interposed when his Secretaries arrived at personalities.  But Washington, although his face was as immobile as stone, was so sick with anger and disgust over the whole situation, at what appeared to be the loss of the popular faith in himself, and the ridicule and abuse which had filled the columns of Freneau’s paper that morning, that it was a relief to him to hear Hamilton explode.

“I repudiate every word you have said, sir,” growled Jefferson.  “More I will not say.  As to Citizen Genet, with whom I have never had a word of private intercourse—­” Here, even Washington lifted his head, and Hamilton laughed outright.  Jefferson continued, determined upon martyrdom rather than rouse the terrible passions opposite:  “As to Citizen Genet, if the Cabinet agree that it is best he leave this country.  I shall demand that his recall be requested in the regular manner, in accordance with every principle of international courtesy.  He may be imprudent, intoxicated with the glorious wine of liberty, but he is a Frenchman, a distinguished citizen of the great country that came so nobly to our rescue, and I protest against the base ingratitude which would fling insults in the teeth of an unfortunate people.”

Hamilton threw back his head impatiently, and drummed with his fingers on the table.  “The primary motive of France for the assistance she gave us was, obviously, to enfeeble a hated and powerful rival.  A second motive was to extend her relations of commerce in the new world, and to acquire additional security for her possessions there, by forming a connection with this country when detached from Great Britain.  To ascribe to her any other motives, to suppose that