From the hall without there sounded a clear whistle, and Fairfax Cary appeared in the library door.  “Are you there, Ludwell?  It’s all dark in here after the sun outside.  I am going to town.”

The elder brother left the window.  “Wait a little, Fair.  I want to talk to you.  Do you remember the night of the nineteenth of February?”

“Yes,” said the other.  “It had been snowing, and then it cleared brilliantly.  I went to the Mayos, and I stopped by Bowler’s Tavern.  It was the night that Aaron Burr slept in Richmond.  I told you, you know, that he was supping out.”

“Yes.  With Lewis Rand.”

There was a silence, then, “So!” exclaimed Fairfax Cary, with a long whistle.

“You are not surprised?”

“No.  It explains.”

“Yes,” assented the other sombrely, “it explains.  Fair, I want to find out when Adam Gaudylock goes West.”

“Gaudylock!” cried the other; then after a moment, “Well, I’m not surprised at that, either.  I can tell you now when he’s going.  In two weeks’ time.”

“How do you know?”

“Unity sent a message about some work or other to Tom Mocket’s sister Vinie.  I gave the message, and the girl fell to talking about Adam.  She was wearing a Spanish comb which he had brought her.  I told her ’t was pretty, and she said ’Yes:  ’twas from New Orleans, and if Miss Unity would like one, Mr. Adam was going there again in two weeks.’”

“Two weeks!” brooded the other.  “Fair, would you not say from every appearance that Lewis Rand is as fixed in Albemarle and in Virginia as you or I or any honest man?  He improves Roselands; he has an important case coming on; it is supposed that in November he will return to Richmond.  I happen to know that he has retaken the house on Shockoe Hill.”  He moved restlessly.  “Why should I dream that he is preparing a moonlight flitting? dream that I see him in the gold southwest, treading his appointed road, triumphant there as here?  A moonlight flitting!  When he goes, he’ll go by day—­walk forth in bronze and purple, unconcerned and confident, high and bold as any Caesar!  From what egg did he spring that he can play the traitor and the parricide—­and yet, and yet the rose bend to his hand?  Does it look, Fair, as though he were in marching order?”

The other considered.  “Do you believe that he is going West to join Burr?”

“I do.  And yet this week he is defending a case in court, and there are others coming on.  He is busy, too, at Roselands, and he has taken the Richmond house.  I am, perhaps, a suspicious, envious, and vindictive fool.”

“Roselands and the Richmond house might be a mask, He refused the nomination for Governor.”

Ludwell Cary started violently.  “I had forgotten that!  You have it, Fair.  He would do that—­he would refuse the nomination.  Lewis Rand, Lewis Rand!”

“Have you any proof that he is conspiring with Burr?”