He was glad to be present at the occurrence of great events, and he was glad to witness this gathering of the mighty.
The tide of youth flowed high in him, and he believed himself fortunate to have been at Charleston when the cannon met the Star of the West, and yet more fortunate to be now at Montgomery, when the head of the new nation was taking up his duties.
His gaze wandered for the first time from the men in the portico to the crowd without that rimmed them around.

His eyes, without any particular purpose, passed from face to face in the front ranks, and then stopped, arrested by a countenance that he had little expected to see.

It was the shadow, Shepard, standing there, and listening, and looking as intently as Harry himself.

It was not an evil face, cut clearly and eager, but Harry was sorry that he had come.

If Colonel Talbot's beliefs about him were true, this was a bad place for Shepard.
But his eyes went back to the new President and the men on the portico before him.