第18章

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。