they drove in silence almost to the rue neuve de berry, calvert musing on the strange glimpse he had had of life in paris, beaufort busy with his restless horses. at the grille of the legation calvert alighted and beaufort bade him good-by, still with the gloomy, foreboding look on his handsome face.
when calvert had mounted the great stairway, with the carved salamanders on the balustrade ever crawling their way up and down, he found mr. jefferson sitting alone before the bright fire in his library. as soon as he heard the young man's step he looked up eagerly.
"at last!" he cried. "i was wishing that you would come in. mr. morris has just been despatched in my carriage to the rue richelieu, and i was beginning to wonder what that wild beaufort had done with you to keep you so late."
"we are but just returned from a sight of the palais royal," said calvert, throwing off his great-coat and sitting down beside mr. jefferson, who rang for candles and a box of his virginia tobacco. "and a strange enough sight it was—a turbulent crowd, and much political speaking from hoarse-throated giants held aloft on their friends' shoulders." "a strange enough place, indeed," said mr. jefferson, shaking his head and smiling a little at calvert's wholesale description of it. "'tis the political centre of paris, in fact, and though the crowds may be turbulent and the orators windy, yet 'tis there that the fruitful seed of the political harvest, which this great country will reap with such profit, is being sown. 'despise not the day of small things,'" he went on, cheerfully. "these rude, vehement orators, with their narrow, often erroneous, ideas, are nevertheless doing a good work. they are opening the minds of the ignorant, clearing a way for broader, higher ideals to lodge therein; they are the pioneers, in this hitherto undiscovered country for france, of civil liberty, and of freedom of thought and action."
"and these vehement orators, with their often erroneous ideas—will they do no harm? will these pioneers not lead their fellows astray in that undiscovered country?" suggested calvert, not without a blush to think that he had the temerity to question the soundness of mr. jefferson's views.
"were we not inexperienced, hot-headed men who gathered in the apollo room at the raleigh to protest against the proceedings in massachusetts? were we not rash, windy orators in the house of burgesses—nay, in congress itself? yet did we not accomplish great things—great good?" he laid his hand affectionately on the shoulder of the young man who remained silent, revolving many things, aeneas-like, but too modest to oppose himself further to mr. jefferson.
"no, no, my boy," continued mr. jefferson, after an instant's silence, "do not believe that the awakening which made of us a great nation will not be equally glorious for france! and with such leaders as are hers, will she not march proudly and triumphantly forward to her day of glory? will not a lafayette do even more for his own country than ever he did for america? even i have been able to help somewhat. 'tis true, as minister from the united states of america, i cannot use my official influence, but surely as a patriot, as an american citizen who is profoundly, overwhelmingly grateful for the aid, the generosity, the friendship of this great country, i can give counsel, the results of our experience, a word of encouragement, of good cheer."
he paused, his noble face alight with enthusiasm and emotion. of all the fine traits of that fine character none was more strongly marked than that of gratitude. never ashamed to show it, his only fear was that he might not prove grateful enough. other americans, of as great talents and colder hearts, could find it easy to believe that france had extended her aid to us for diplomatic purposes—to guard her own interests and humble her adversary, england—could look on with neutral eyes at her awful struggles, could keep america calmly aloof from all her entanglements. not so mr. jefferson. such a return for her services seemed to him but the acme of selfishness and ingratitude. it was not bad statesmanship that made him bear so long with the blunders, the impertinences, the fatuity of monsieur genet; it was the remembrance of all the benefits showered upon us by the country which that charlatan represented. perhaps 'tis well that those who hold the welfare of a nation in their hands should, like the gods, feel neither fear, nor anger, nor love, nor hatred, nor gratitude—in a word, should be unmoved by forces that sway the common mortal, so that, free from all earthly claims, that nation soars away to dizzying heights of prosperity and power. pro bono publico is a wellnigh irresistible plea. but there are statesmen in whose code of morals national virtues are identical with personal virtues, national crimes with personal crimes. such a one was mr. jefferson.
"no, no," he went on, musingly, filling his long pipe with the mild, fragrant virginia tobacco which had been shipped to him in the packet of two months back, "we must not forget our obligations. would that we could pay some of the moneyed ones! the finances of this country are in a deplorable state and there are millions of indebtedness on account of our war. but if we cannot do that, we can, at least, give our moral aid to those who are trying to bring about great reforms in this kingdom—reforms which, i hope, will be carried through at the forthcoming states-general to be held in may. already the elections are preparing, and some of our friends will undoubtedly represent their orders. d'azay and lafayette will assuredly be nominated from the noblesse."
"general de lafayette and d'azay!" said calvert. "i should like to see them again. the last time was at monticello."
"yes, yes," returned mr. jefferson, smiling at the pleasant recollection of that last evening in virginia. "lafayette is still in auvergne, i believe, busy with his elections, so that i fear he will not be here tomorrow, the evening of the weekly legation reception. but d'azay will doubtless present himself, since monsieur de beaufort tells us he returns tomorrow. indeed, he and his aunt, madame la duchesse d'azay, and his sister, the lovely madame de st. andré, are among my stanchest friends in this great city and nearly always do me the honor to be my guests at the receptions and dinners i find it both so agreeable and necessary to give. i have already engaged mr. morris's company for the evening. it will give me great pleasure to introduce two such americans to the world of paris," and he laid his hand affectionately, in his customary fashion, on the young man's shoulder.
as mr. jefferson had said, he entertained frequently, and 'twas a very brilliant society that gathered at least once a week in the salon of the minister from the young republic, drawn thither by policy, curiosity, respect and admiration for mr. jefferson, a desire to consult him on the important topics of the hour, and a certain freedom from constraint—a feeling as of being on neutral ground. for already the salons of paris were divided against themselves. no longer simply the gatherings of fashionable, of charming, of frivolous men and women, they had grown somewhat serious with the seriousness of the time. in the salon of madame necker gathered the solid supporters of the king, and, above all, the solid supporters of monsieur necker, who was at the height of his power and complacently ready to play the role of saviour to his country. at the palais royal crowded the queer followers of monsieur le duc d'orléans, the enemies of the king. at the house of the beautiful théroigne de méricourt were to be found the men of the most advanced, the most revolutionary, ideas, the future murderers and despoilers of france. in the salon of the exquisite madame de sabran flocked all those young aristocrats, wits, sprigs of nobility, who believed in nothing in heaven or earth save in the old order. there was the serious circle around madame de tessé, where new ideas were advanced and discussed, and there was the gay circle of madame de beauharnais, whose chief attractions were her delightful dinners, and who, the wits declared, had "intended to found a salon, but had only succeeded in starting a restaurant." besides these, there were a dozen other important centres representing as many different shades of political faith. but in the salon of the american legation gathered the best of every following, for, although mr. jefferson's democratic principles were, of course, well and widely known, yet was he so respected, his moderation and fairness so recognized, that all considered it an honor to be his friend and his presence a guarantee of amicable discussion and good-fellowship.
"i shall be very glad to meet your new friends, sir," said calvert, smiling back at mr. jefferson as that gentleman arose and stood with his back to the fire, his tall, thin figure silhouetted by the firelight on the wall (the candles were still unlit), his hands clasped lightly behind his back, as was his wont. "i had the pleasure of meeting an old one this afternoon."
"indeed," said mr. jefferson, "and who was that?"
"a poor french private named bertrand, who served in a company under general de lafayette's orders in the attack on yorktown, and whom i had the occasion to know rather well. i fancy," he went on, smiling a little at the recollection of beaufort's haughtiness, "that beaufort was somewhat amazed at the cordiality of our meeting."
"beaufort!" ejaculated mr. jefferson, and a slight frown gathered on his forehead. "i fancy that beaufort and his ilk will be amazed at many things shortly. ned, i warn you to beware of him. he has changed greatly since the days when he fought so gallantly under rochambeau in our great war of independence. he has become an aristocrat of aristocrats, a popinjay, a silken dandy, like most of the young nobles at this court. he is high in the king's favor and devoted to his cause. though your friendships and opinions can have no official weight, as you are my private secretary, still 'twere well to be careful, to be as neutral as possible, to occasion no offence. and, indeed, mr. secretary," he went on, shaking off his serious air and speaking in a lighter tone, "i should be instructing you in your duties, explaining the diplomatic situation to you, instead of discussing foolish young noblemen like monsieur de beaufort."
"i shall remember your advice, mr. jefferson," said calvert, quietly, "and i am ready for any instructions and duties."
"after all, 'twill be unwise to begin them this evening," returned mr. jefferson, shaking his head. "you are doubtless wearied with your journey, and we had better postpone your induction into office until to-morrow, when we can take the whole day for business. you can have no idea, my dear ned, of the numberless affairs put into our hands," he went on, with a note of anxiety in his voice, "or with what difficulty many of them are arranged. the constant change of ministers is most disconcerting among the many disconcerting factors of official existence here, and just now i am harassed by my non-success in getting from congress an appropriation to pay bills for medals and for the redemption of our captives. it seems that the interest on the dutch loans until 1790 must be paid before other claims, which leaves but a small chance for those bills to be liquidated. by the way, to-morrow you must write me a letter to monsieur de villedeuil à propos of a mr. nesbit and his debts—an affair lately put into our care. but there! no business this evening. 'tis but a short while before dinner, which you and i will take quite alone this evening, ned, and you must tell me of yourself and what you have been doing all these years at the college of princeton."
mr. jefferson looked at the young man before him with such affectionate interest that calvert, though he was the least talkative or egotistic of mortals, found himself telling of his college life, the vacations at strathore, and his visits to philadelphia and new york.
now and then one sees a person in the mezzo cammin of his years so happily constituted by nature as to attract and be attracted by youth. he seems to hold some fortunate, ever-youthful principle of life denied to the rest of us. it was so with mr. jefferson. statesman, philosopher, scientist himself, he yet numbered the young and inexperienced among his many friends, and not one of them held so warm a place in his affections as young calvert of strathore. he had received from dr. witherspoon the accounts of his career at college, where, although never greatly popular, he had won his way by his quiet self-reliance, entire sincerity, and the accuracy and solidity of his mind rather than by any brilliancy of intellect. these sterling gifts had first attracted mr. jefferson's notice and excited his admiration and affection. the lonely condition of the young man, too, though borne by him in that uncomplaining fashion characteristic of him, touched mr. jefferson, the more, perhaps, for the very silence and stoicism with which 'twas supported. he was, therefore, greatly surprised when he heard calvert allude to it for the first time on that winter's afternoon. the young man had taken mr. jefferson's place before the open fire and now stood leaning against the chimney-piece as he talked, while mr. jefferson, sitting beside the reading-table, drew deep whiffs of the fragrant tobacco from his long pipe and listened interestedly to what calvert had to say, smiling now and then appreciatively. after a little the young man ceased to speak and stood gazing meditatively into the glowing logs.
"a word more, mr. jefferson," he said, at length, still gazing into the gleaming embers. as he stood so, looking down into the fire, the flickering light leaped up and played upon his quiet face, upon the clean-cut lips, the firm jaw, the aquiline nose, the broad, smooth brow, from which the dark-brown hair, unpowdered, waved back, tied at the neck with a black ribbon whose ends fell down upon the broad young shoulders. perhaps it was the changing light, or perhaps it was the shadow from his uplifted hand on which he lightly leaned his head, that made his eyes seem dark and troubled, and quite unlike their usual serene selves. as mr. jefferson looked at the young man an uneasy thought took shape in his mind that that face's cheerful expression had altered since it had entered his doors, that the shadow of a change had somehow come upon it.
"a word more," said calvert again, resting his foot upon one of the burnished andirons, and removing his gaze from the flickering fire to mr. jefferson's attentive face. "i believe that not in my letters, and assuredly not since getting here, have i thanked you gratefully enough for summoning me to you. 'tis such an honor and a pleasure to be with you, to work for you, that i cannot express myself as i would like, sir. indeed, i have long years of kindnesses, of interest, of affectionate concern for my welfare, to thank you for. i do not think you can ever know what all that means to one so entirely alone as i am and have been almost since i could remember. 'tis only in the last few years," he went on, hurriedly, and lowering his hand still more over his serious eyes, "that i have entirely realized what it is to be without kindred. i have to thank you and a few other kind friends that the knowledge has been so long withheld from me."
mr. jefferson looked at the young figure, with its unusual air of sadness, bending over the firelight. rising, he went over to him and laid his hand on the young man's shoulder.
"there can be no question of thanks between us, ned," he said at length, simply. "i love you as though you were my son, and it is the greatest pleasure to have you with me." and, indeed, it seemed so and as if he could not do enough for his young secretary. and that night, when the quiet dinner was over and they were ready to retire, he himself lighted calvert to his bed-chamber and left him with such an affectionate good-night that the young man felt happier and more at home in that strange house in paris than though he had been at strathore itself, with no three thousand miles of vexed ocean between himself and virginia.
