e rank of uplifted weapons. From the chapel they were led
to another room, where the contracting parties signed their names in a
register. The Kofedix then brought forward two marriage
certificates--heavy square plates of a brilliant purple metal,
beautifully engraved in parallel columns of English and Kondalian
script, and heavily bordered with precious stones. The principals and
witnesses signed below each column, the signatures being deeply engraved
by the royal engraver. Leaving the registry, they were escorted to the
dining hall, where a truly royal repast was served. Between courses the
highest nobles of the nation welcomed the visitors and wished them
happiness in short but earnest addresses. After the last course had been
disposed of, the Karbix rose at a sign from the Karfedix and spoke, his
voice again agitated by the emotion which had puzzled his hearers during
the marriage service.

"All Kondal is with us here in spirit, trying to aid us in our poor
attempts to convey our welcome to these our guests, of whose friendship
no greater warrant could be given than their willingness to grant us the
privilege of their marriage. Not only have they given us a boon that
will make their names revered throughout the nation as long as Kondal
shall exist, but they have also been the means of showing us plainly
that the First Cause is upon our side, that our age-old institution of
honor is in truth the only foundation upon which can be built a race
fitted to survive. At the same time they have been the means of showing
us that our hated foe, entirely without honor, building his race upon a
foundation of bloodthirsty savagery alone, is building wrongly and must
perish utterly from the face of Osnome."

His hearers listened, impressed by his earnestness, but plainly not
understanding his meaning.

"You do not understand?" he went on, with a deep light shining in his
eyes. "It is inevitable that two peoples inhabiting worlds so widely
separated as are our two should be possessed of widely-varying knowledge
and abilities, and these strangers have already made it possible for us
to construct engines of destruction which shall obliterate Mardonale
completely...." A fierce shout of joy interrupted the speaker and the
nobles sprang to their feet, saluting the visitors with upraised
weapons. As soon as they had reseated themselves, the Karbix continued:

"That is the boon. The vindication of our system of evolution is easily
exp