if you could only have been in Charleston in the course of recent
months! If you could have heard the speakers! If you could have
seen how the great and righteous Calhoun's influence lives after him!
And then the writers! That able newspaper, the Mercury, has thundered
daily for our cause. Simms, the novelist, and Timrod and Hayne, the
poets have written for it. Let the cities of the North boast of their
size and wealth, but they cannot match Charleston in culture and spirit
and vivacity!"

Harry saw that Bertrand felt and believed every word he said, and his
enthusiasm was communicated to the colonel, whose face flushed, and to
Harry, too, whose own heart was beating faster.

"It was a great deed!" exclaimed Colonel Kenton. "South Carolina has
always dared to speak her mind, but here in Kentucky some of the cold
North's blood flows in our veins and we pause to calculate and consider.
We must hasten events. Now, Raymond, we will go into the library.
Our friends will be here in a half hour. Harry, you are to stay with
us. I told you that you are to be trusted."

They left the table, and went into the great room where the fire had
been built anew and was casting a ruddy welcome through the windows.
The two men sat down before the blaze and each fell silent, engrossed in
his thoughts. Harry felt a pleased excitement. Here was a great and
mysterious affair, but he was going to have admittance to the heart
of it. He walked to the window, lifted the curtain and looked out.
A slender erect figure was already coming up the walk, and he recognized
Travers.

Travers knocked at the door and was received cordially. Colonel Kenton