Thisroomwasgrotesquelylatter—dayinitsappointments。
Inthecentrewasabrightovallitbyshadedelectriclightsfromabove。Therestwasinshadow，andthedoublefinelyfittingdoorsthroughwhichhecamefromtheswarmingHalloftheAtlasmadetheplaceverystill。Thedeadthudoftheseastheyclosedbehindhim，thesuddencessationofthetumultinwhichhehadbeenlivingforhours，thequiveringcircleoflight，thewhispersandquicknoiselessmovementsofvaguelyvisibleattendantsintheshadows，hadastrangeeffectuponGraham。Thehugeearsofaphonographicmechanismgapedinabatteryforhiswords，theblackeyesofgreatphotographiccamerasawaitedhisbeginning，beyondmetalrodsandcoilsglittereddimly，andsomethingwhirledaboutwithadroninghum。Hewalkedintothecentreofthelight，andhisshadowdrewtogetherblackandsharptoalittleblotathisfeet。
Thevagueshapeofthethinghemeanttosaywasalreadyinhismind。Butthissilence，thisisolation，thesuddenwithdrawalfromthatcontagiouscrowd，thissilentaudienceofgaping，glaringmachineshadnotbeeninhisanticipation。Allhissupportsseemedwithdrawntogether；heseemedtohavedroppedintothissuddenly，suddenlytohavediscoveredhimself。Inamomenthewaschanged。Hefoundthathenowfearedtobeinadequate，hefearedtobetheatrical，hefearedthequalityofhisvoice，thequalityofhiswit，astonished，heturnedtothemaninyellowwithapropitiatorygesture。\"Foramoment，\"hesaid，\"Imustwait。Ididnotthinkitwouldbelikethis。ImustthinkofthethingIhavetosay。
WhilehewasstillhesitatingtherecameanagitatedmessengerwithnewsthattheforemostaeroplaneswerepassingoverArawan。
\"Arawan？\"hesaid。\"Whereisthat？Butanyhow，theyarecoming。Theywillbehere。When？\"
\"Bytwilight。\"
\"GreatGod！Inonlyafewhours。Whatnewsoftheflyingstages？\"heasked。
\"Thepeopleofthesouth—westwardsareready。\"
\"Ready！\"
Heturnedimpatientlytotheblankcirclesofthelensesagain。
\"Isupposeitmustbeasortofspeech。WouldtoGodIknewcertainlythethingthatshouldbesaid！
AeroplanesatArawan！Theymusthavestartedbeforethemainfleet。Andthepeopleonlyready！
Surely……\"
\"Oh！whatdoesitmatterwhetherIspeakwellorill？\"hesaid，andfeltthelightgrowbrighter。
Hehadframedsomevaguesentenceofdemocraticsentimentwhensuddenlydoubtsoverwhelmedhim。
Hisbeliefinhisheroicqualityandcallinghefoundhadaltogetherlostitsassuredconviction。Thepictureofalittlestruttingfutilityinawindywasteofincomprehensibledestiniesreplacedit。AbruptlyitwasperfectlycleartohimthatthisrevoltagainstOstrogwaspremature，foredoomedtofailure，theimpulseofpassionateinadequacyagainstinevitablethings。HethoughtofthatswiftflightofaeroplanesliketheswoopofFatetowardshim。Hewasastonishedthathecouldhaveseenthingsinanyotherlight。Inthatfinalemergencyhedebated，thrustdebateresolutelyaside，determinedatallcoststogothroughwiththethinghehadundertaken。Andhecouldfindnowordtobegin。Evenashestood，awkward，hesitating，withanindiscreteapologyforhisinabilitytremblingonhislips，camethenoiseofmanypeoplecryingout，therunningtoandfrooffeet。\"Wait，\"criedsomeone，andadooropened。\"Sheiscoming，\"saidthevoices。
Grahamturned，andthewatchinglightswaned。
Throughtheopendoorwayhesawaslightgreyfigureadvancingacrossaspacioushall。Hisheartleapt。ItwasHelenWotton。Behindandabouthermarchedariotofapplause。Themaninyellowcameoutofthenearershadowsintothecircleoflight。
\"ThisisthegirlwhotolduswhatOstroghaddune，\"hesaid。
Herfacewasaflame，andtheheavycoilsofherblackhairfellabouthershoulders。Thefoldsofthesoftsilkrobesheworestreamedfromherandfloatedintherhythmofheradvance。Shedrewnearerandnearer，andhisheartwasbeatingfast。Allhisdoubtsweregone。Theshadowofthedoorwayfellathwartherfaceandshewasnearhim。\"Youhavenotbetrayedus？\"shecried。\"Youarewithus？\"
\"Wherehaveyoubeen？\"saidGraham。
\"Attheofficeofthesouth—westwards。UntiltenminutessinceIdidnotknowyouhadreturned。I
wenttotheofficeofthesouth—westwardstofindtheWardLeadersinorderthattheymighttellthepeople。\"
\"IcamebacksosoonasIheard——。\"
\"Iknew，\"shecried，\"knewyouwouldbewithus。
AnditwasI——itwasIthattoldthem。Theyhaverisen。Alltheworldisrising。Thepeoplehaveawakened。ThankGodthatIdidnotactinvain！
YouareMasterstill。\"
\"Youtoldthem\"hesaidslowly，andhesawthatinspiteofhersteadyeyesherlipstrembledandherthroatroseandfell。
\"Itoldthem。Iknewoftheorder。Iwashere。
IheardthatthenegroesweretocometoLondontoguardyouandtokeepthepeopledown——tokeepyouaprisoner。AndIstoppedit。Icameoutandtoldthepeople。AndyouareMasterstill。\"
Grahamglancedattheblacklensesofthecameras，thevastlisteningears，andbacktoherface。\"IamMasterstill，\"hesaidslowly，andtheswiftrushofafleetofaeroplanespassedacrosshisthoughts。
\"Andyoudidthis？You，whoarethenieceofOstrog。\"
\"Foryou，\"shecried。\"Foryou！Thatyouforwhomtheworldhaswaitedshouldnotbecheatedofyourpower。\"
Grahamstoodforaspace，wordless，regardingher。
Hisdoubtsandquestioningshadfledbeforeherpresence。Herememberedthethingsthathehadmeanttosay。Hefacedthecamerasagainandthelightabouthimgrewbrighter。Heturnedagaintowardsher。
\"Youhavesavedme，\"hesaid；\"youhavesavedmypower。Andthebattleisbeginning。Godknows。
whatthisnightwillsee——butnotdishonour。\"
Hepaused。Headdressedhimselftotheunseenmultitudeswhostareduponhimthroughthosegrotesqueblackeyes。Atfirsthespokeslowly。
\"Menandwomenofthenewage，\"hesaid；\"Youhavearisentodobattlefortherace……Thereisnoeasyvictorybeforeus。\"
Hestoppedtogatherwords。Thethoughtsthathadbeeninhismindbeforeshecamereturned，buttransfigured，nolongertouchedwiththeshadowofapossibleirrelevance。\"Thisnightisabeginning，\"hecried。\"Thisbattlethatiscoming，thisbattlethatrushesuponusto—night，isonlyabeginning。Allyourlives，itmaybe，youmustfight。TakenothoughtthoughIambeaten，thoughIamutterlyoverthrown。\"
Hefoundthethinginhismindtoovagueforwords。
Hepausedmomentarily，andbrokeintovagueexhortations，andthenarushofspeechcameuponhim。
Muchthathesaidwasbutthehumanitariancommonplaceofavanishedage，buttheconvictionofhisvoicetouchedittovitality。Hestatedthecaseoftheolddaystothepeopleofthenewage，tothewomanathisside。\"Icomeoutofthepasttoyou，\"hesaid，\"withthememoryofanagethathoped。Myagewasanageofdreams——ofbeginnings，anageofnoblehopes；throughouttheworldwehadmadeanendofslavery；throughouttheworldwehadspreadthedesireandanticipationthatwarsmightcease，thatallmenandwomenmightlivenobly，infreedomandpeace……Sowehopedinthedaysthatarepast。Andwhatofthosehopes？Howisitwithmanaftertwohundredyears？
\"Greatcities，vastpowers，acollectivegreatnessbeyondourdreams。Forthatwedidnotwork，andthathascome。Buthowisitwiththelittlelivesthatmakeupthisgreaterlife？Howisitwiththecommonlives？Asithaseverbeen——sorrowandlabour，livescrampedandunfulfilled，livestemptedbypower，temptedbywealth，andgonetowasteandfolly。Theoldfaithshavefadedandchanged，thenewfaith——。
Isthereanewfaith？\"
Thingsthathehadlongwishedtobelieve，hefoundthathebelieved。Heplungedatbeliefandseizedit，andclungforatimeatherlevel。Hespokegustily，inbrokenincompletesentences，butwithallhisheartandstrength，ofthisnewfaithwithinhim。Hespokeofthegreatnessofself—abnegation，ofhisbeliefinanimmortallifeofHumanityinwhichweliveandmoveandhaveourbeing。Hisvoiceroseandfell，andtherecordingapplianceshummedtheirhurriedapplause，dimattendantswatchedhimoutoftheshadow。
Throughallthosedoubtfulplaceshissenseofthatsilentspectatorbesidehimsustainedhissincerity。
Forafewgloriousmomentshewascarriedaway；hefeltnodoubtofhisheroicquality，nodoubtofhisheroicwords，hehaditallstraightandplain。Hiseloquencelimpednolonger。Andatlasthemadeanendtospeaking。\"Hereandnow，\"hecried，\"Imakemywill。AllthatismineintheworldIgivetothepeopleoftheworld。AllthatismineintheworldI
givetothepeopleoftheworld。Igiveittoyou，andmyselfIgivetoyou。AndasGodwills，Iwillliveforyou，orIwilldie。\"
Heendedwithafloridgestureandturnedabout。
Hefoundthelightofhispresentexaltationreflectedinthefaceofthegirl。Theireyesmet；hereyeswereswimmingwithtearsofenthusiasm。Theyseemedtobeurgedtowardseachother。Theyclaspedhandsandstoodgripped，facingoneanother，inaneloquentsilence。Shewhispered。\"Iknew，\"shewhispered。
\"Iknew。\"Hecouldnotspeak，hecrushedherhandinhis。Hismindwasthetheatreofgiganticpassions。
Themaninyellowwasbesidethem。Neitherhadnotedhiscoming。Hewassayingthatthesouth—westwardsweremarching。\"Ineverexpecteditsosoon，\"
hecried。\"Theyhavedonewonders。Youmustsendthemawordtohelpthemontheirway。\"
GrahamdroppedHelen’shandandstaredathimabsent—mindedly。Thenwithastarthereturnedtohispreviouspreoccupationabouttheflyingstages。
\"Yes，\"hesaid。\"Thatisgood，thatisgood。\"Heweighedamessage。\"Tellthem；——welldoneSouthWest。\"
HeturnedhiseyestoHelenWottonagain。Hisfaceexpressedhisstrugglebetweenconflictingideas。
\"Wemustcapturetheflyingstages，\"heexplained。
\"Unlesswecandothattheywilllandnegroes。Atallcostswemustpreventthat。\"
Hefeltevenashespokethatthiswasnotwhathadbeeninhismindbeforetheinterruption。Hesawatouchofsurpriseinhereyes。Sheseemedabouttospeakandashrillbelldrownedhervoice。
ItoccurredtoGrahamthatsheexpectedhimtoleadthesemarchingpeople，thatthatwasthethinghehadtodo。Hemadetheofferabruptly。Headdressedthemaninyellow，buthespoketoher。Hesawherfacerespond。\"HereIamdoingnothing，\"hesaid。
\"Itisimpossible，\"protestedthemaninyellow。
\"Itisafightinawarren。Yourplaceishere。\"
Heexplainedelaborately。HemotionedtowardstheroomwhereGrahammustwait，heinsistednoothercoursewaspossible。\"Wemustknowwhereyouare，\"hesaid。\"Atanymomentacrisismayariseneedingyourpresenceanddecision。\"Theroomwasaluxuriouslittleapartmentwithnewsmachinesandabrokenmirrorthathadoncebeenen__rapport__withthecrow’snestspecula。ItseemedamatterofcoursetoGrahamthatHelenshouldstopwithhim。
Apicturehaddriftedthroughhismindofsuchavastdramaticstruggleasthemassesintheruinshadsuggested。Butherewasnospectacularbattle—fieldsuchasheimagined。Insteadwasseclusion——andsuspense。
Itwasonlyastheafternoonworeonthathepiecedtogetheratruerpictureofthefightthatwasraging，inaudiblyandinvisibly，withinfourmilesofhim，beneaththeRoehamptonstage。A
strangeandunprecedentedcontestitwas，abattlethatwasahundredthousandlittlebattles，abattleinaspongeofwaysandchannels，foughtoutofsightofskyorsunundertheelectricglare，foughtoutinavastconfusionbymultitudesuntrainedinarms，ledchieflybyacclamation，multitudesdulledbymindlesslabourandenervatedbythetraditionoftwohundredyearsofservilesecurityagainstmultitudesdemolisedbylivesofvenialprivilegeandsensualindulgence。Theyhadnoartillery，nodifferentiationintothisforceorthat；theonlyweapononeithersidewasthelittlegreenmetalcarbine，whosesecretmanufactureandsuddendistributioninenormousquantitieshadbeenoneofOstrog’sculminatingmovesagainsttheCouncil。Fewhadhadanyexperiencewiththisweapon，manyhadneverdischargedone，manywhocarrieditcameunprovidedwithammunition；neverwaswilderfiringinthehistoryofwarfare。Itwasabattleofamateurs，ahideousexperimentalwarfare，armedriotersfightingarmedrioters，armedrioterssweptforwardbythewordsandfuryofasong，bythetrampingsympathyoftheirnumbers，pouringincountlessmyriadstowardsthesmallerways，thedisabledlifts，thegalleriesslipperywithblood，thehallsandpassageschokedwithsmoke，beneaththeflyingstages，tolearntherewhenretreatwashopelesstheancientmysteriesofwarfare。Andoverheadsaveforafewsharpshootersupontheroofspacesandforafewbandsandthreadsofvapourthatmultipliedanddarkenedtowardstheevening，thedaywasaclearserenity。Ostrogitseemshadnobombsatcommandandinalltheearlierphasesofthebattletheaeropilesplayednopart。Notthesmallestcloudwastheretobreaktheemptybrillianceofthesky。Itseemedasthoughithelditselfvacantuntiltheaeroplanesshouldcome。
Everandagaintherewasnewsofthese，drawingnearer，fromthisMediterraneanportandthenthat，andpresentlyfromthesouthofFrance。ButofthenewgunsthatOstroghadmadeandwhichwereknowntobeinthecitycamenonewsinspiteofGraham’surgency，noranyreportofsuccessesfromthedensefeltoffightingstrandsabouttheflyingstages。
SectionaftersectionoftheLabourSocietiesreporteditselfassembled，reporteditselfmarching，andvanishedfromknowledgeintothelabyrinthofthatwarfareWhatwashappeningthere？Eventhebusywardleadersdidnotknow。Inspiteoftheopeningandclosingofdoors，thehastymessengers，theringingofbellsandtheperpetualclitter—clackofrecordingimplements，Grahamfeltisolated，strangelyinactive，inoperative。
Theirisolationseemedattimesthestrangest，themostunexpectedofallthethingsthathadhappenedsincehisawakening。Ithadsomethingofthequalityofthatinactivitythatcomesindreams。Atumult，thestupendousrealisationofaworldstrugglebetweenOstrogandhimself，andthenthisconfinedquietlittleroomwithitsmouthpiecesandbellsandbrokenmirror！
Nowthedoorwouldbeclosedandtheywerealonetogether；theyseemedsharplymarkedoffthenfromalltheunprecedentedworldstormthatrushedtogetherwithout，vividlyawareofoneanother，onlyconcernedwithoneanother。Thenthedoorwouldopenagain，messengerswouldenter，orasharpbellwouldstabtheirquietprivacy，anditwaslikeawindowinawellbuiltbrightlylithouseflungopensuddenlytoahurricane。
Thedarkhurryandtumult，thestressandvehemenceofthebattlerushedinandoverwhelmedthem。Theywerenolongerpersonsbutmerespectators，mereimpressionsofatremendousconvulsion。
Theybecameunrealeventothemselves，miniaturesofpersonality，indescribablysmall，andthetwoantagonisticrealities，theonlyrealitiesinbeingwerefirstthecity，thatthrobbedandroaredyonderinabelatedfrenzyofdefenceandsecondlytheaeroplaneshurlinginexorablytowardsthemovertheroundshoulderoftheworld。
Atfirsttheirmoodhadbeenoneofexaltedconfidence，agreatpridehadpossessedthem，aprideinoneanotherforthegreatnessoftheissuestheyhadchallenged。Atfirsthehadwalkedtheroomeloquentwithatransitorypersuasionofhistremendousdestiny。
Butslowlyuneasyintimationsoftheircomingdefeattouchedhisspirit。Therecamealongperiodinwhichtheywerealone。Hechangedhistheme，becameegotistical，spokeofthewonderofhissleep，ofthelittlelifeofhismemories，remoteyetminuteandclear，likesomethingseenthroughaninvertedopera—
glass，andallthebriefplayofdesiresanderrorsthathadmadehisformerlife。Shesaidlittle，buttheemotioninherfacefollowedthetonesinhisvoice，anditseemedtohimhehadatlastaperfectunderstanding。
Herevertedfrompurereminiscencetothatsenseofgreatnesssheimposeduponhim。\"Andthroughitall，thisdestinywasbeforeme，\"hesaid；\"thisvastinheritanceofwhichIdidnotdream。\"
Insensiblytheirheroicpreoccupationwiththerevlutionarystrugglepassedtothequestionoftheirrelationship。Hebegantoquestionher。Shetoldhimofthedaysbeforehisawakening，spokewithabriefvividnessofthegirlishdreamsthathadgivenabiastoherlife，oftheincredulousemotionshisawakeninghadaroused。Shetoldhimtooofatragiccircumstanceofhergirlhoodthathaddarkenedherlife，quickenedhersenseofinjusticeandopenedherheartprematurelytothewidersorrowsoftheworld。Foralittletime，sofarashewasconcerned，thegreatwaraboutthemwasbutthevastennoblingbackgroundtothesepersonalthings。
Inaninstantthesepersonalrelationsweresubmerged。
TherecamemessengerstotellthatagreatfleetofaeroplaneswasrushingbetweentheskyandAvignon。Hewenttothecrystaldialinthecornerandassuredhimselfthatthethingwasso。HewenttothechartroomandconsultedamaptomeasurethedistancesofAvignon，NewArawan，andLondon。Hemadeswiftcalculations。HewenttotheroomoftheWardLeaderstoaskfornewsofthefightforthestages——andtherewasnoonethere。Afteratimehecamebacktoher。
Hisfacehadchanged。Ithaddawneduponhimthatthestrugglewasperhapsmorethanhalfover，thatOstrogwasholdinghisown，thatthearrivaloftheaeroplaneswouldmeanapanicthatmightleavehimhelpless。Achancephraseinthemessagehadgivenhimaglimpseoftherealitythatcame。Eachofthesesoaringgiantsboreitsthousandhalfsavagenegroestothedeathgrappleofthecity。Suddenlyhishumanitarianenthusiasmshowedflimsy。OnlytwooftheWardLeaderswereintheirroom，whenpresentlyherepairedthither，theHalloftheAtlasseemedempty。Hefanciedachangeinthebearingoftheattendantsintheouterrooms。Asombredisillusionmentdarkenedhismind。Shelookedathimanxiouslywhenhereturnedtoher。
\"Nonews，\"hesaidwithanassumedcarelessnessinanswertohereyes。
Thenhewasmovedtofrankness。\"Orrather——
badnews。Wearelosing。Wearegainingnogroundandtheaeroplanesdrawnearerandnearer。\"
Hewalkedthelengthoftheroomandturned。
\"Unlesswecancapturethoseflyingstagesinthenexthour——therewillbehorriblethings。Weshallbebeaten。
\"No！\"shesaid。\"Wehavejustice——wehavethepeople。WehaveGodonourside。\"
\"Ostroghasdiscipline——hehasplans。Doyouknow，outtherejustnowIfelt——。WhenIheardthattheseaeroplaneswereastagenearer。IfeltasifI
werefightingthemachineryoffate。\"
Shemadenoanswerforawhile。\"Wehavedoneright，\"shesaidatlast。
Helookedatherdoubtfully。\"Wehavedonewhatwecould。Butdoesthisdependuponus？Isitnotanoldersin，awidersin？\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"sheasked。
\"Theseblacksaresavages，ruledbyforce，usedasforce。Andtheyhavebeenundertheruleofthewhitestwohundredyears。Isitnotaracequarrel？
Theracesinned——theracepays。\"
\"Buttheselabourers，thesepoorpeopleofLondon——！\"
\"Vicariousatonement。Tostandwrongistosharetheguilt。\"
Shelookedkeenlyathim，astonishedatthenewaspecthepresented。
Withoutcametheshrillringingofabell，thesoundoffeetandthegabbleofaphonographicmessage。
Themaninyellowappeared。\"Yes？\"saidGraham。
\"TheyareatVichy。\"
\"WherearetheattendantswhowereinthegreatHalloftheAtlas？\"askedGrahamabruptly。
PresentlytheBabbleMachinerangagain。\"Wemaywinyet，\"saidthemaninyellow，goingouttoit。
\"IfonlywecanfindwhereOstroghashiddenhisguns。Everythinghangsonthatnow。Perhapsthis——\"
Grahamfollowedhim。Buttheonlynewswasoftheaeroplanes。TheyhadreachedOrleans。
GrahamreturnedtoHelen。\"Nonews，\"hesaid\"Nonews。\"
\"Andwecandonothing？\"
\"Nothing。\"
Hepacedimpatiently。Suddenlytheswiftangerthatwashisnaturesweptuponhim。\"Cursethiscomplexworld！\"hecried，\"andalltheinventionsofmen！Thatamanmustdielikearatinasnareandneverseehisfoe！Oh，foroneblow！……\"
Heturnedwithanabruptchangeinhismanner。
\"That’snonsense，\"hesaid。\"Iamasavage。\"
Hepacedandstopped。\"AfterallLondonandParisareonlytwocities。Allthetemperatezonehasrisen。WhatifLondonisdoomedandParisdestroyed？Thesearebutaccidents。\"Againcamethemockeryofnewstocallhimtofreshenquiries。Hereturnedwithagraverfaceandsatdownbesideher。
\"Theendmustbenear，\"hesaid。\"Thepeopleitseemshavefoughtanddiedintensofthousands，thewaysaboutRoehamptonmustbelikeasmokedbeehive。
Andtheyhavediedinvain。Theyarestillonlyatthesubstage。TheaeroplanesarenearParis。
Evenwereagleamofsuccesstocomenow，therewouldbenothingtodo，therewouldbenotimetodoanythingbeforetheywereuponus。Thegunsthatmighthavesavedusaremislaid。Mislaid！Thinkofthedisorderofthings！Thinkofthisfoolishtumult，thatcannotevenfinditsweapons！Oh，foroneaeropile——justone！ForthewantofthatIambeaten。
Humanityisbeatenandourcauseislost！Mykingship，myheadlongfoolishkingshipwillnotlastanight。AndIhaveeggedonthepeopletofight——。\"
\"Theywouldhavefoughtanyhow。\"
\"Idoubtit。Ihavecomeamongthem——\"
\"No，\"shecried，\"notthat。Ifdefeatcomes——ifyoudie——。Buteventhatcannotbe，itcannotbe，afteralltheseyears。\"
\"Ah！Wehavemeantwell。But——doyouindeedbelieve——？\"
\"Iftheydefeatyou，\"shecried，\"youhavespoken。
Yourwordhasgonelikeagreatwindthroughtheworld，fanninglibertyintoaflame。Whatiftheflamesputtersalittle！Nothingcanchangethespokenword。Yourmessagewillhavegoneforth……\"
\"Towhatend？Itmaybe。Itmaybe。YouknowIsaid，whenyoutoldmeofthesethingsdearGod！butthatwasscarcelyascoreofhoursago！——I
saidthatIhadnotyourfaith。Well——atanyratethereisnothingtodonow……\"
\"Youhavenotmyfaith！Doyoumean——？Youaresorry？\"
\"No，\"hesaidhurriedly，\"no！BeforeGod——no！\"
Hisvoicechanged。\"But——。Ithink——Ihavebeenindiscreet。Iknewlittle——Igraspedtoohastily……\"
Hepaused。Hewasashamedofthisavowal。
\"Thereisonethingthatmakesupforall。Ihaveknownyou。AcrossthisgulfoftimeIhavecometoyou。Therestisdone。Itisdone。Withyou，too，ithasbeensomethingmore——orsomethingless——\"
Hepausedwithhisfacesearchinghers，andwithoutclamouredtheunheededmessagethattheaeroplaneswererisingintotheskyofAmiens。
Sheputherhandtoherthroat，andherlipswere。
white。Shestaredbeforeherasifshesawsomehorriblepossibility。Suddenlyherfeatureschanged。
\"Oh，butIhavebeenhonest！\"shecried，andthen，\"HaveIbeenhonest？Ilovedtheworldandfreedom，Ihatedcrueltyandoppression。Surelyitwasthat。\"
\"Yes，\"hesaid，\"yes。Andwehavedonewhatitlayinustodo。Wehavegivenourmessage，ourmessage！WehavestartedArmageddon！Butnow——。Nowthatwehave，itmaybeourlasthour，together，nowthatallthesegreaterthingsaredone……\"
Hestopped。Shesatinsilence。Herfacewasawhiteriddle。
Foramomenttheyheedednothingofasuddenstiroutside，arunningtoandfro，andcries。ThenHelenstartedtoanattitudeoftenseattention。\"Itis——，\"shecriedandstoodup，speechless，incredulous，triumphant。AndGraham，too，heard。Metallicvoiceswereshouting\"Victory！\"Yesitwas\"Victory！\"
Hestoodupalsowiththelightofadesperatehopeinhiseyes。
Burstingthroughthecurtainsappearedthemaninyellow，startledanddishevelledwithexcitement。
\"Victory，\"hecried，\"victory！Thepeoplearewinning。
Ostrog’speoplehavecollapsed。\"
Sherose。\"Victory？\"Andhervoicewashoarseandfaint。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"askedGraham。\"Tellme！
What？\"
\"WehavedriventhemoutoftheundergalleriesatNorwood，Streathamisafireandburningwildly，andRoehamptonisours。Ours！——andwehavetakentheaeropilethatlaythereon。\"
ForaninstantGrahamandHelenstoodinsilence，theirheartswerebeatingfast，theylookedatoneanother。ForonelastmomenttheregleamedinGrahamhisdreamofempire，ofkingship，withHelenbyhisside。Itgleamed，andpassed。
Ashrillbellrang。Anagitatedgrey—headedmanappearedfromtheroomoftheWardLeaders。\"Itisallover，\"hecried。
\"WhatmattersitnowthatwehaveRoehampton？
TheaeroplaneshavebeensightedatBoulogne！\"
\"TheChannel！\"saidthemaninyellow。Hecalculatedswiftly。\"Halfanhour。\"
\"Theystillhavethreeoftheflyingstages，\"saidtheoldman。
\"Thoseguns？\"criedGraham。
\"Wecannotmountthem——inhalfanhour。\"
\"Doyoumeantheyarefound？\"
\"Toolate，\"saidtheoldman。
