Part One Chapter 5 The Pell-Mell and Some Consequences

Meriwether Lewis allowed himself a smile.

"Go," added his chief. "Garb yourself as I would have you--in your best. But there will be no precedence at table this evening--remember that! Let them take seats pell-mell--the devil take the hindmost--a fair field for every one, and favor to none! Seat them as nearly as possible as they should not be seated--and leave the rest to me. All these--indeed, all history and all the records--shall take me precisely as I am!"

An hour later Meriwether Lewis stood before his narrow mirror, well and handsomely clad, as was seeming with one of his family and his place--a tall and superb figure of young manhood, as proper a man as ever stood in buckled shoes in any country of the world.

The guests came presently, folk of many sorts. With Mr. Jefferson as President, the democracy of America had invaded Washington, taking more and more liberties, and it had many representatives on hand. With these came persons of rank of this and other lands, dignitaries, diplomats, officials, ministers of foreign powers. Carriages with outriders came trundling over the partially paved roads of the crude capital city. Footmen opened doors to gentlemen and ladies in full dress, wearing insignia of honor, displaying gems, orders, decorations, jewels, all the brilliant costumes of the European courts.

They came up the path to the door of the mansion where, to their amazement, they were met only by Mr. Jefferson's bowing old darky Ben, who ushered them in, helped them with their wraps and asked them to make themselves at home. And only old Henry, Mr. Jefferson's butler, bowed them in as they passed from the simple entrance hall into the anteroom which lay between the hall and the large dining-saloon.