I looked at him. His own eyes were swimming wet! This, then, was that man of whom it is only remembered that he was a pro-slavery champion.
"It will be a great country," said he at last. "This once done, I shall feel that, after all, I have not lived wholly in vain."
"But the difficulties! Suppose Van Zandt proves traitorous to us?"
"He dare not. Texas may know that he bargained with England, but he dare not traffic with Mexico and let that be known. He would not live a day."
"But perhaps the Doña Lucrezia herself might some time prove fickle."
"She dare not! She never will. She will enjoy in secret her revenge on perfidious Albion, which is to say, perfidious Pakenham. Her nature is absolutely different from that of the Baroness von Ritz. The Doña Lucrezia dreams of the torch of love, not the torch of principle!"
"The public might not approve, Mr. Calhoun; but at least there were advantages in this sort of aids!"
"We are obliged to find such help as we can. The public is not always able to tell which was plot and which counterplot in the accomplishment of some intricate things. The result excuses all. It was written that Texas should come to this country. Now for Oregon! It grows, this idea of democracy!"
"At least, sir, you will have done your part. Only now—"
"Only what, then?"