"Sir," I said, tempted beyond my strength, "I accept the terms."
"Your hand to it!" he cried, and his soft white fingers closed about mine with a strength of grip that astonished me. "To you, sir, shall be entrusted the double mission of opening communication across the Western boundaries with our Mexican allies, and of negotiating with the present Spanish authorities for the Santa Fe trade. I need hardly mention to a man of your intelligence that such projects as we contemplate are not carried to completion without funds. To me falls the task of collecting the sinews of war."
"To me the leadership of the scouts!" I cried. "I am doubly hot to take the road. Dawn shall see me in the saddle!"
"The fire of youth!" he exclaimed, again clasping my hand. "Go, make your preparations. You will ride none the less swiftly that you carry a packet of letters for me."
"Willingly!"
"You think to go south to New Orleans?" I bowed. "Then a letter as well to Daniel Clark."
"I am known to him."
"True; but I have word to send him—no less to Wilkinson—regarding the death of Pitt."
"It is months since that event," I remarked. "The Prime Minister died in January."
"The post to Louisiana is uncertain. Wilkinson at least may not have heard, and I have comments to make. You will deliver the letters for me?"