most wonderful thing of its kind ever
invented! If it is given to the world it will revolutionise the whole
system of aerial navigation. Here we are, flying at top speed in
perfect ease and safety with no engine--nothing to catch fire--nothing
to break or bust--and the whole mechanism mysteriously makes its own
motive power as it goes. Radio-activity it may be--but its condensation
and use for such a purpose is the secret invention of a woman--and
surely we must admit her genius! As for our obedience--ECCELLENZA, we
are both royally paid to obey!"

Rivardi flushed red.

"I know!" he said, curtly--"I never forget it. But money is not
everything."

Gaspard's mobile French face lit up with a mirthful smile.

"It is most things!" he replied--"Without it even science is crippled.
And this lady has so much of it!--it seems without end! Again,--it is
seldom one meets with money and brains and beauty--all together!"

"Beauty?" Rivardi queried.

"Why, yes!--beauty that only flashes out at moments--of all beauty the
most fascinating! A face that is always beautiful is fatiguing,--it is
the changeful face with endless play of expression that enthralls,--or
so it is to me!" And Gaspard gave an eloquent gesture--"This lady we
both work for seems to have no lovers--but if she had, not one of them
could ever forget her!"

Rivardi was silent.

"I should not wonder," ventured Gaspard, presently--"if--while we
slept--she had seen her 'Brazen City'!"

Rivardi uttered something like an oath.

"Impossible!" he exclaimed--"She would have awakened us!"

"If she could, no doubt!" agreed Gaspard--"But if she could not, how
then?"

For a moment Rivardi looked puzzled,--then he dismissed his companion's
suggestion with a contemptuous shrug.

"Basta! There is no 'Brazen City'! When she heard the old tradition she
was like a child with a fairy tale--a child who, reading of
strawberries growing in the winter snow, goes out forthwith to find
them--she did not really believe in it--but it pleased her to imagine
she did. The mere sight of the arid empty desert has been enough for
her."

"We certainly heard bells"--said Gaspard.

"In our brains! Such sounds often affect the nerves when flying for a
long while at high speed. For all our cleverness we are only human. I
have heard on the 'wireless,' sounds that do not seem of this world at
all."

"So have I"--said Gaspard--"And though it may be my own brain talking,
I'm not so obstin