Clair stopped himself, gave a dry laugh, and handed the child back to his mother. Then he took out his watch again, and kneeling on the bench with his elbows resting on its back he gazed at the town. As far as the eye could reach, the multitude of houses stood out in their tiny immensity. Caroline turned her eyes in the same direction. “What splendid weather it is!” said she. “The sun’s rays change the smoke on the horizon into gold. The worst thing about civilization is that it deprives one of the light of day.” He did not answer; his looks remained fixed on a place in the town. After some seconds of silence they saw about half a mile away, in the richer district on the other side of the river, a sort of tragic fog rearing itself upwards. A moment afterwards an explosion was heard even where they were sitting, and an immense tree of smoke mounted towards the pure sky. Little by little the air was filled with an imperceptible murmur caused by the shouts of thousands of men. Cries burst forth quite close to the square. “What has been blown up?” The bewilderment was great, for although accidents were common, such a violent explosion as this one had never been seen, and everybody perceived that something terribly strange had happened. Attempts were made to locate the place of the accident; districts, streets, different buildings, clubs, theatres, and shops were mentioned. Information gradually became more precise and at last the truth was known. “The Steel Trust has just been blown up.” Clair put his watch back into his pocket. Caroline looked at him closely and her eyes filled with astonishment. At last she whispered in his ear: “Did you know it? Were you expecting it? Was it you . . .” He answered very calmly: “That town ought to be destroyed.” She replied in a gentle and thoughtful tone: “I think so too.” And both of them returned quietly to their work. §. 3