Excerpt from Scandalmonger by William Safire, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

The Reynolds house was in a pleasant neighborhood not far from Alexander Hamilton's home; one could hardly hear the frogs. Monroe stood back and let Muhlenberg rap on the door.

Maria Reynolds appeared and motioned them to enter as if she expected their visit and was resigned to it. The tall young woman's blue eyes directly engaged him; on first impression, she struck the Virginian as both capable and vulnerable. Dressed in a high-necked maroon dress with a tight bodice that had been the fashion a few years before, the striking young lady held herself proudly. Monroe presumed from the interview with Clingman that the two were having an illicit romance; if so, he decided, the sallow young man was getting much the better of the bargain.

He let Muhlenberg take the lead in gaining her confidence. Mrs. Reynolds offered them tea and served it with a relaxed grace that Monroe considered almost Southern. Though the teapot was respectable silver, the earthenware dishes were chipped, the pewter mugs were somewhat battered and the furniture in the modest home was inelegant. A general messiness suggested the presence of a small child and a lack of domestic help. Gentle questioning by the avuncular Congressman from Pennsylvania revealed that she was a Van Der Burgh from New York, related by marriage to the wealthy Livingston clan. Or so she said. Monroe wondered, but did not ask, what could have driven a young lady of such fine bearing and aristocratic attraction to leave home at a tender age and follow the fortunes of a blackguard like Reynolds.

"We have just come from your husband, who will be free to come home tomorrow," Monroe informed her. He did not essay a smile. "And we understand that Colonel Hamilton has been a frequent visitor in this house." He left the impression that the prisoner had told them that.

"I know," she said. "A friend of my husband's observed your visit at the jail and rushed here to tell me to expect two gentlemen from the Congress. I have been instructed to tell you nothing and -- more important -- to give you nothing."

"Ach," said Muhlenberg, taken aback.

"But that is not your intent," said Monroe quickly. He assumed she would not have told them about being forewarned had she not intended to cooperate to some extent.

"I am reluctant, sir," the composed young woman replied, "to say anything that would renew Mr. Reynolds's difficulties with the law."

Monroe judged that she expected to be persuaded. "Let me be frank," said the Virginia Senator, to whom candor did not come easily. "Your husband is not the primary object of our concern. Tell us, as a good citizen, all you can about the visits of Colonel Hamilton and any written communication your husband may have received from him."

She took a deep breath. "My husband sent word to me to burn them and I did." Monroe instantly doubted that; if letters from Hamilton to her husband existed, it would be in the interest of both Reynoldses to hold on to them. "He said that Colonel Hamilton told him that he would provide us with enough money to leave the country as soon as he was released." That part, at least, sounded true.

"The person who came just now with a message from your husband -- what else did he tell you, besides to tell us nothing?"

"He said Mr. Hamilton had enemies who would try to prove he engaged in some speculation, but that he would be shown to be immaculate."

"And what did you say?"

"I said I rather doubted that."

Monroe raised his eyebrows. "Why do you doubt it?" When she remained silent, he refined the question, presenting it this time more firmly: "What led you to believe Hamilton would not be 'immaculate'?"

She shrugged. "My husband often said he could tell of something that would make the heads of great departments tremble."

Muhlenberg put in a question that had not occurred to Monroe. "You say you burned letters to your husband from Hamilton. Did he send any letters directly to you, that you kept?"

Copyright William Safire February 2000. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of the publisher, Simon & Schuster