The witness’s voice, raised by suggestion of counsel to a higher note, came athwart Mocket’s speculations.  “I listened to Colonel Burr’s mode of indemnity; and as I had by this time begun to suspect that the military expedition he had on foot was unlawful, I permitted him to believe myself resigned to his influence, that I might understand the extent and motive of his arrangements.  Colonel Burr now laid open his project of revolutionizing the territory west of the Alleghany; establishing an independent empire there; New Orleans to be the capital, and he himself to be the chief; organizing a military force on the waters of the Mississippi, and carrying conquest to Mexico—­”

On went Eaton’s disclosures, punctuated by heated objections from Wickham and Luther Martin, and once or twice by a scornful question from Burr himself.  It was damning testimony, and the throng hung breathless on the various voices.  Mocket listened also, but listened with his eyes upon his chief, and when there arose some interruption and dispute over technicalities, his freed mind proceeded to deal with Rand’s change of aspect.  It occurred to him to wonder if the light which showed it to him could be falling through a veil of storm cloud, but when he glanced at the high window, there was only the blue August heaven.  What, then, gave Lewis so dark a look?  “The black dog he talks of has got him sure,” thought Tom.  “What’s happened to anger him like that?”

The voice of the witness again made itself heard.  “Colonel Burr stated that he had secured to his interests and attached to his person the most distinguished citizens of Tennessee, Kentucky, and the territory of Orleans; that the army of the United States would act with him; that it would be reinforced by ten or twelve thousand men from the above states and territories, and that he had powerful agents in the Spanish territory.  He proposed to give me a distinguished command in his army; I understood him to say the second in command.  I asked him who would command in chief.  He said, General Wilkinson.  I said that General Wilkinson would act as lieutenant to no man in existence.  ’You are in error,’ said Mr. Burr.  ‘Wilkinson will act as lieutenant to me—­’”

Mocket moved with care along the ledge until he had brought within his view another portion of the Hall.  “That look of his isn’t fixed on nothing!  Now we’ll see.”  He stood on tiptoe, craned his neck, and surveyed the crowded floor.  “Humph!” he remarked at last.  “I might have known without looking.  If I were Ludwell Cary—­”

The counsel for the prisoner and the prisoner himself were subjecting the witness to a riddling fire of cross-questions.  Mocket, on his coign of vantage, was caught again by the more apparent drama, and looked and listened greedily.  Eaton at last retired, much damaged, and Commodore Truxtun was sworn.  This was a man of different calibre, and from side to side of the long room occurred a subtle intensification