In the Eagle’s best bedroom, before a blazing fire and a bottle of port, he found Fairfax Cary deep in a winged chair and a volume of Fielding.  “Well, Fair?” he said, with his arm upon the mantel-shelf and his booted foot upon the fender.

The younger Cary closed his book and hospitably poured wine for his brother.  “Were you at the Amblers’?” he asked.  “It’s a night for one’s own fireside.  I went to the Mayos’, but the fair Maria is out of town.  On the way I stopped at Bowler’s Tavern to see his man about that filly we were talking of, and I had a glass with old Bowler himself.  He let out a piece of news.  Who d’ye think is in town and under Bowler’s roof?—­Aaron Burr!”

There was a silence, then Cary said quietly, “Aren’t you mistaken, Fair?”

“Not in the least,” answered the other.  “He came in a sloop from Baltimore yesterday.  It is not known that he’s in town; he does not want it known.  He’s keeping quiet,—­perhaps he has another duel on his conscience.  I don’t believe old Bowler knew he had let the cat out.  Burr leaves to-morrow.  He was out visiting to-night.”

“How do you know that?” Cary demanded, with sudden sharpness.

“Bowler’s best bedroom in darkness—­no special preparations for supper—­Burr’s man idling in the kitchen—­mine host taking no cake to speak low,—­in short, the wedding guest was roaming.  I wonder where he was!”

The elder Cary raised and drained the glass of wine.  He knew where Aaron Burr had supped and passed the evening, and a coldness that was not of the night crept upon him.  As for Lewis Rand, he cared not what he did nor why he did it, but for Jacqueline Churchill.  This had been the client from the country!  All the time she was keeping it secret that Burr was there.  She had turned pale.  No wonder!—­the faithful wife!

“Take care, that glass is thin—­you’ll break it!” warned the younger Cary, but the glass had snapped in the elder’s fingers.

“Pshaw!” said Cary; “too frail for use!  I’m off to bed, Fair.  That bill comes up to-morrow, and it means a bitter fight.  Good-night,—­and I say, Fair, hold your tongue about Aaron Burr.  Good-night!”

In his room he put out the candle, parted the window curtains, and looked upon Orion, icily splendid in the midnight sky.  “What is there that is steadfast?” he thought.  “Does she love him so?” He stood for a long time looking out into the night.  He thought of that evening at Fontenoy when he had come in from the sultry and thunderous air and had found Rand seated in the drawing-room and Jacqueline at her harp, singing To Althea,—­

     “Minds innocent and quiet take
        That for a hermitage.”

The words and the vision of Fontenoy that night were yet with him when at last he turned from the window and threw himself upon the bed, where he finally fell asleep with his arm flung up and across his eyes.

CHAPTER XVI