I. A. R. Wylie

“ But then he had never had any human relationship. He hadn't had time. He had fought his way up from the gutter through privation and the bitter, hindering war, and there had never been time or strength left for life itself. Even Jimmy Sewell wasn't his friend—Jimmy Sewell with the leonine, splendid head and the face that fell away just below the eyes into a kind of meaninglessness. Sewell's brain was his fellow-worker—but Sewell himself, in the rare moments when Napier had caught a glimpse of him, was a puzzling, confusing stranger. ”

“ He looked curiously into the faces of the people who passed him, feeling an immense tenderness a it was possible that they, too, loved and were loved. He had always thought of people in the larger term of humanity, and now humanity meant people to him—separate individuals who suffered or were happy—or were both together, as he was.
He wondered at their tranquil, inexpressive faces. For life was rather difficult to live for every one, and there must have been so many among them aching for an unobtainable happiness—people bound hand and foot by honor or poverty. ”

“ Napier said.
She felt suddenly older than he was—infinitely wise.
“Even supposing you were the man—that wouldn't change me. I am what I have become. I might face hardship well enough—the kind of hardship that my sort do face—the hardship of sport or adventure, but not squalor and meanness. My life will always have to be splendid somehow.” ”

“ Buying and selling. That was life—that was the soul of civilization, The terrific thing before which his mind had knelt in passionate wonder was, after all, little more than a patent medicine—a patent gadget for an aeroplane or car—something to be sold for as ma as you could get, so that you could marry the woman you loved and give her the toys she loved. As to the uses to which the thing was put, that was not his concern. His concern was for himself. So long as Robert Napier and Margaret Elroy were happy in their midget playtime among the centuries, what else mattered? ”

“ It wouldn't have mattered if it had not been the truth, but she knew that beneath all the idle love-making of her social life had been the secret conviction that it was all idle—that it was inconceivable that there could be more than one man in the mob of men that surrounded her who could be her husband, and that if she could at last be sure of him it would matter very little who he was. ”

“ They were beginning to stir now, like ants in a disturbed ant-hill. A few workers scudded dismally along the gray pavements, every man intent on his own job, on his own scrap of life. They did not dream that perched high above them was the representative of their composite will, holding, at least for a little while, absolute power. ”

“ Her thoughts wandered back to what was for her the real issue. They were both silent. In the glass opposite she saw the reflection of a fair-haired girl in a shining golden frock. She saw how lovely she was. In the dark, massively furnished room she had a fragile, fairy quality, a look of gracious aloofness from all the roughness and turmoil of life. She looked at the slender feet in their brocaded slippers—feet that were meant to dance lightly down smooth and sheltered paths. ”

“ Sewell said in slow irony. “It's a pity Elroy has figuratively kicked you downstairs. And what do you propose to do now?”
He turned, and his face came into the light. It was deceptively fair and young-looking. The brow was that of a genius and the chin and mouth were that of a boy—an eager, hungry boy. “We're through with our own resources. The scientific societies have nothing left for us. They can't go on financing people who want to out-Einstein Einstein and muddle the daily press worse than it is muddled already. We can't starve. ”

“ Men made the loveliness of the universe hellish. Apes, comic, horrible apes running amuck in a treasure house—smashing, despoiling, cursing their self-inflicted misery.
He put his hands to his head. For that moment he hated Margaret Elroy and himself. He hated this room with its reproach. If only he could change places with some downtrodden worker, blank-minded, with seeing, sightless eyes, living his little life in innocency! He wasn't fit—no one living man was fit.
Suddenly he couldn't bear the room any more. He turned and fled from it.
6
“NAPIER is a genius,” Sewell said. ”

“ The tears came into her eyes. There was something moving, but not pitiful, in that solitary, battling figure.
John Elroy stood at her side. He was looking over her shoulder. And she was aware of a sudden intentness.
“Fletcher and Gordon seem to be giving a party,” she said with a little gust of anger. “The Old House must have every light burning. I wish they wouldn't. I wish the Old House could be shut up altogether.” ”

“ Napier came in his day clothes because they were all he had, but his credentials were unimpeachable, and there were other men shabby as himself. But, at least, they did not speak to John Elroy's daughter. They kept away from her. Her youth and expensive beauty would have put their gray, laborious lives hopelessly in the wrong. But though Napier saw that she was lovelier even than he had remembered, it did not occur to him that he was therefore an impossible figure. ”

“ Elroy suggested.
Sewell flushed faintly. “I may say that the discovery is as much mine as his—indeed, more so. Without my financial support Napier could have done nothing.”
“Quite so.”
They were both silent. Throughout they had been very wary with each other, and now they had reached a vital and dangerous place in their negotiations. Elroy measured the man opposite him. He was a good judge of men, and he knew that he had to deal with both brains and greed. Well, greed was a good weapon in the hands of an opponent. ”

“ You have to cut loose and throw off everything that stands for safety and what other people call happiness. And patience. It's like standing before a dark, silent fortress. There's not a soul to tell you who are inside. Every door and window is barred. ”

“ She made no attempt to defend Napier or herself, It was useless. And her mind wouldn't let her. Her mind told her that she was mad, and her heart didn't care.
“Of course, your life is your own, Margaret,” Elroy went on at last. “You—must weigh your values yourself and make your own choice. But you can't expect me to help you to make a fool of us both. This is your home always—until you make your choice, and after you have chosen and have found out your mistake. But I shan't do more. I'm not playing the heavy father. ”

“ It was couched in the language of his caste—an almost barbaric language in its crude poverty of expression, but sincere enough. He must have been Peter's contemporary, not less than thirty, and yet he looked such a boy, so pink and smooth. She had a sudden conviction that when he was fifty he would be just the same. He might grow a little fatter or a little leaner. There would be lines about his pleasant eyes, and the fair hair would have receded from the honest forehead. But he would never, never grow up. ”

“ After all, Napier's attitude will probably be governed by a third and purely human influence.”
“You mean—? Ah, quite. I had thought of that myself. It looks like the hand of Providence, doesn't it?—working for the ultimate good of all.”
Sewell stood up, and they shook hands. Elroy stood close to his visitor, holding him in a long, intent regard. A nameless emotion quivered for a moment in the small, white face and was gone again like a ripple on the surface of still water.
“You are both young to have attained so much,” he said. “Other men have done their best and been less fortunate. ”

“ And when with endless toil you break down one door and let the prisoner out, there's always another waiting for you. And you never know there may be nothing—there may be everything—you might tumble into the very arms of God. ”

“ Sewell admitted. He had gone over to the window and was watching the glittering stream of night life flow westward. His voice shook with a sudden anger. “God!” he said—“I'd like to go out and eat and drink as though it didn't matter what I ate or drank. Sometimes the universe and all its infernal secrets could go to hell for all I care. I want to be free while it's worth while. In twenty years it will be too late.”
“Well, wait three months,” Napier said.
Within these three months a he met Margaret Elroy twice. The first time was at a scientific reception at which John Elroy presided. ”

“ I've never been able to imagine them having colds in the head or toothache—much less beautiful daughters. It wouldn't have seemed quite respectful. But then I'm so far from being a millionaire myself.”
She knew that she ought to be offended. But he obviously was simply saying what he thought. And somehow, if you were out on the moors in a storm, you couldn't be annoyed with honesty.
“Perhaps I might as well ask who you are, then?” she suggested.
“Of course. I'm sorry. My name's Napier—Robert Napier. I'm a scientist—in fact, I'm fairly well known. Only I haven't any chair. ”

“ So there were times when even pertinacity and ambition failed. She felt faintly triumphant, but the wind howling against the house made her heart sore.
“There are so many mad people in this world,” John Elroy said, smoothing the page of his book with his fragile hand. ”

“ Only it would be difficult, until further experiment had been made, to limit the range of action exactly.”
“I gather that this—this thing is not necessarily destructive?”
“Far from it. It is simply a new form of power. But it is as an engine of national defence that I conceive its chief utility, Sir John.”
“Defence, or a defensive offensive?”
Sewell made a movement of indifference. “That is a matter of policy. It does not concern me. I am merely a man of science.”
Elroy allowed himself a shadowy smile. “Quite.” ”

“ She kept on speculating about him.
“I wonder why I didn't know you were coming,” she said. “It's not usual for my father to see any one at Knaresholm. And I should have thought he would have told me.”
“I expect he was ashamed of giving way. I badgered him into seeing me. He didn't want to. But I wanted his help. And my want was the stronger.”
“How could he help you?”
“Millionaires who are Prime Ministers are useful people, Miss Elroy. My partner and I are on the verge of what we believe to be a big thing. Another year or two might see us through. ”

“ When I marry I shall have nothing—not till my father's death, at any rate. Not then, if I have gone against his will. He is a loving man, but inflexible, too. He would despise a man who needed his help, and despise me for him. ”

“ Miss Elroy loved fighting. While the war was on she had wanted terribly to be a man—a grown man and not a useless chit of a twelve-year-old girl. The idea of being killed hadn't daunted her. All the Elroys had fought. Even her father in his own way. And her brother, Peter. ”

“ Napier stumbled upon this discovery. Others may stumble—and what then?”
Sewell considered a moment, frowning. “It is a risk. Not a very great one—not for this generation, at any rate. Sooner or later, perhaps—but not yet. And the first discoverer has an incalculable advantage. Farther than that no one can see.”
Elroy nodded to himself. “Once such a discovery has been made, there is no turning back,” he reflected. “And now—” he went on in a clearer tone, “we must act quickly. I shall call together men whom I can trust—experts. At once. Tomorrow. ”

“ You can scrap your Navy and your Amy tomorrow. Such things are as useless and obsolete as bows and arrows. The power which holds our secret is absolute dictator, and without an effort—almost without cost.”
“How can you be sure that it is a secret? Some one may have forestalled you?”
Sewell gave his companion an amused glance.
“Politics are not my concern. I am woefully ignorant. But I should imagine you would have felt the pressure.”
“Quite.”
THE two men looked each other in the eyes for the first time and smiled unwillingly. Elroy made a little old-fashioned inclination. ”

“ There is only one man for you and only one woman for me. You couldn't conceive it otherwise. I may not be the man, but at least money and position have nothing to do with it. It would be better that you should never marry at all than that you should marry any one. ”

“ And then for no reason she saw Gordon and Fletcher, those two grim-faced North Countrymen as they had passed her on the road, touching their caps with that queer, furtive look. Did they never speak to any one? Her brother's servants. They had tried to save him at the risk of their own lives. But she could: not like them. They frightened her—as all this place frightened her when night came.
She turned back, shivering, to the fire.
2
NOR had anything like that ever happened to Robert Napier before. ”

“ It was he who laughed now, and the sound was loud and rough in his own ears. “What is it the Americans say? I've 'got the goods' this time. Sewell and I aren't just wool-gatherers. We're merchants, too, like every one else. We'll sell to the highest market, and you shall have pretty things, sweetheart, all the days of your life.”
He bent over her. “Kiss me, Margaret—kiss me—” ”