ing. Aye, at the end of the
three days you would be glad enough to have the ten-foot chain cut. But
first what would happen?"

The vague terror grew coldly in her, for she could see the idea taking
hold of him like a hand.

"If I were to do this, the world might term it a shameful thing, but I
act for Pornia--not for myself. I consider only the good of the State.
By this experiment I prove to you that love is not God, but blind
nature. Yes, and if you knew it as it is, would you oppose me longer?
The thought grows upon me! Speak!"

Her smile made her almost beautiful.

"Sire, in all the world there is only one man for every woman."

"Book talk."

He set his teeth because he could not meet her eyes.

"And who will bring you this one man?"

"God."

Once more the soundless laugh.

"Then I shall play the part of God. Bertha, you must now make your
decision: a marriage for the good of the State, or the ten-foot chain,
the dark room--and love!"

"Even you will not dare this, sire."

"Bertha, there is nothing I do not dare. What would be known? I give
orders that this room be utterly darkened; I send secret police to seize
a man from the city at random and fetter him to a chain in that room;
then I bring you to the room and fasten you to the other end of the
chain, and for three days I have food introduced into the room. Results?
For the man, death; for you, a knowledge first of yourself and,
secondly, of love. The State will benefit."

"It is bestial--incredible."

"Bestial? Tut! I play the part of God and even surpass Him. I put you
face to face with a temptation through which you shall come to know
yourself. You lose a dream; you gain a fact. It is well. Shame will
guard the secret in your heart--and the State will benefit. Still you
see that I am paternal--merciful. I do not punish you for your past
obstinacy. I still give you a choice. Bertha, will you marry as I wish,
or will you force me to play the part of God?"

"I shall not marry."

"Ah, you will wait for God to make up the difference. It is well--very
well; _le Dieu c'est moi_. Ha! That is greater than the phrase of Louis
XIV. You shall have still more time, but the moment the sun goes down,
if I do not hear from you, I shall ring a bell that will send my secret
police out to seize a man indiscriminately from the masses of the city.
I shall not even stipulate that he be young. My trust in nature
is--absolute. _Adieu!_"

She made up her mind t