t down while I read the letter--I may
have to write an answer--and if so you can post it at the Plaza."

He went before her into the hut, and she followed. He bade her sit down
in the chair by the window,--she obeyed, and glanced about her shyly,
yet curiously. The room was not untidy, as she expected it would be
without a woman's hand to set it in order,--on the contrary it was the
perfection of neatness and cleanliness. Her gaze was quickly attracted
by the bowl of perpetually moving fluid in the center of the table.

"What is that?" she asked.

"That? Oh, nothing! An invention of mine--just to look pretty and cool
in warm weather! It reminds me of women's caprices and fancies--always
on the jump! Yes!--don't frown, Manella!--that is so! Now--let me see
what Mr. Sam Gwent has to say that he didn't say before---" and seating
himself, he opened the letter and began to read.

Manella watched him from under the shadow of her long-fringed
eyelids--her heart beat quickly and uncomfortably. She was fearful lest
Gwent should have broken faith with her after all, and have written of
her and her vain passion, to the man who already knew of it only too
well. She waited patiently for the "god of her idolatry" to look up. At
last he did so. But he seemed to have forgotten her presence. His brows
were knitted in a frown, and he spoke aloud, as to himself--

"A syndicate! Old humbug! He knows perfectly well that the thing could
not be run by a syndicate! It must be a State's own single
possession--a State's special secret. If I were as bent on sheer
destructiveness as he imagines me to be, I should waste no more time,
but offer it to Germany. Germany would take it at once--Germany would
require no persuasion to use it!--Germany would make me a millionaire
twice over for the monopoly of such a force!--that is, if I wanted to
be a millionaire, which I don't. But Gwent's a fool--I must have scared
him out of his wits, or he wouldn't write all this stuff about risks to
my life, advising me to marry quickly and settle down! Good God!
I?--Marry and settle down? What a tame ending to a life's adventure!
Hello, Manella!"

His eyes lighted upon her as if he had only just seen her. He rose from
his chair and went over to where she sat by the window.

"Patient girl!" he said, patting her dark head with his big sun-browned
hand--"As good as gold and quieter than a mouse! Well! You may go now.
I've read the letter and there's no answer. N