"I always want to see you," says Hamilton, a little dreamily. His head hurts. He presses Burr's hand against it, as though this will solve the hurting problem. Burr smells wrong, and Hamilton can't pin down why. He makes a soft, sad sound. Why is this happening? What did he do wrong?

"He took a great deal of laudanum to subdue," Ned murmurs, to Burr. "He may still be suffering the effects."

He would be weeping, he thinks, but his eyes are rasping-dry. "I should have broken down a window and gone in and killed him."

"No, Alexander," says Ned. "You have a defense, as it is. He came out, after you challenged him, and you were in a fever of the brain."

"I want him dead." He looks up to Burr. "He hurt you and I want him dead."