lained Westerling.

"With what, now? With a speech or a lullaby? As well could you stop the
retreat with your naked hands. My business to control the public, yes,
but not unless you win victories. I gave you the soldiers. We have
nothing but police here, and I tell you that the public is in a mob
rage--the whole public, bankers and business and professional men
included. I have just ordered the stock exchange and all banks closed."

"There's a cure for mobs!" cried Westerling. "Let the police fire a few
volleys and they'll behave."

"Would that stop the retreat of the army? We must sue for peace."

"Sue for peace! Sue for peace when we have five millions against their
three!"

"It seems so, as the three millions are winning!" said the premier.

"Sue for peace because women go hysterical? Do you suppose that the
Browns will listen now when they think they have the advantage? Leave
peace to me! Give me forty-eight hours more! I have told our troops to
hold and they will hold. I don't mistake cowardly telegraphers' rumors
for facts--"

"Pardon me a moment," the premier interrupted. "I must answer a local
call." So astute a man of affairs as he knew that Westerling's voice,
storming, breaking, tightening with effort at control, confirmed all
reports of disaster. "In fact, the crockery is broken--for you and for
me!" said the premier when he spoke again. His life had been a gamble
and the gamble had turned against him in playing for a great prize.
There was an admirable stoicism in the way he announced the news he had
received from the local call: "The chief of police calls me up to say
that the uprising is too vast for him to hold. There isn't any mutiny,
but his men simply have become a part of public opinion. A mob of women
and children is starting for the palace to ask me what I have done with
their husbands, brothers, sons, and fathers. They won't have to break in
to find me. I'm very tired. I'm ready. I shall face them from the
balcony. Yes, Westerling, you and I have achieved a place in history,
and they're far more bitter toward you than me. However, you don't have
to come back."

"No, I don't have to go back! No, I was not to go back if I failed!"
said Westerling dizzily.

Again defiance rose strong as the one tangible thought, born of his
ruling passion. It was inconceivable that so vast an ambition should
fail. Failure! He defied it! He burst into the main staff room, where
the tired officers regarded h