ss, whose loved one is lost as though in death, and who
lives through the present dream according to an ideal, the ideal of
being worthy of the vanished past.

Unziar alone looked stonily blank, but the other grim faces round the
table regarded Rallywood with a sort of satisfaction. He had sinned
against them, but they were about to make him pay the highest human
penalty for his sin. Yet to Ulm his demeanour was suggestive. There was
something eloquent of singleness of heart and nobleness that seemed to
buoy up this man with his broken honour. There was no parade of
outraged innocence, nothing but a fearless reserve.

Rallywood hardly heard the grave voices that discussed his fate,
stirring as they did so the clogging quiet which hung with such solemn
effect over the historic room.

Those lofty walls had never before echoed to a similar charge or a like
disgrace. The accusation was set forth in general terms. It spoke only
of a certain prisoner and certain despatches. Rallywood acting under
valid orders, had taken over the despatches from Unziar, and next by a
false telegram to Unziar had ordered the release of a certain prisoner.
Also he had used the despatches to forward aims of his own, to the loss
and detriment of the Free State of Maasau. Anthony Unziar gave his
evidence briefly and with caution, but it was conclusive.

After the charge had been completed and proved, a few minutes silence
ensued. Then Count Sagan addressed the prisoner.

'Captain Rallywood, have you anything to say in your own defence?'

A sudden jarring sense of amusement struck upon Rallywood. They were
playing a farce; Count Simon, with his mortal enmity, was but acting his
part. The whole procedure was hollow yet he Rallywood would have to give
his life to prove that all this seeming was deadly earnest--that the
blustering traitor opposite was not a defeated schemer but a loyal son
of Maasau!

Rallywood could not repress a quick smile.

Count Simon flung his fist upon the table.

'Do you hear me?' he shouted; 'what have you to say in your defence?'

Rallywood looked him in the eyes.

'Nothing,' he said.

There was a hush. Sagan picked up the glances of the officers round him.
Rallywood's words had come as a shock. Most of the men expected some
attempt if not at a defence at least at a justification of his conduct.

Sagan's harsh voice was raised again.

'His sword.'

Unziar sprang up hurriedly.

'It is in the ante-room,' he