"Lewis, I've heard you say things like that more than once lately.

A year ago you were mighty respectful to Mr.
Jefferson's salt mountain and strange bones and great elk and silk grass and all the rest of it.

That was a curious letter of yours in the Examiner.

If't was meant to defend his neutrality doings, 'twas a damned lukewarm defence! If I hadn't known 'twas yours, sink me if I wouldn't have thought it a damned piece of Federal sarcasm!--Did you send that paper to the President ?" "No, I did not send it." "Lewis," said the scamp slowly, "are you breaking with Mr.Jefferson ?" Rand walked to the window and stood looking out upon the winter afternoon.

It was snowing hard, and through the drifting veil the trees across the way could hardly be discerned.