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。