Saul Hartz, still standing, folded his arms defiantly. But the cold force of the speaker was not without effect. In spite of a bitter and deep hostility the Colossus was obliged to abate his anger to the point of listening to every word spoken by this remarkable man. “Sir,” continued the President of the Council with the same icy politeness, “you will do well to know just what it is that has constituted you the enemy of the human race. In the fewest possible words I shall hope to make that clear to you. A man of truly remarkable gifts, a man of creative imagination in the world of common affairs, you have so adapted your brain to the new order evolved by modern civilization that you have gained control of the sinister machine which evokes, creates, molds and directs public opinion. That is a feat of which our Society makes no complaint. But having acquired by the exercise of your genius this stupendous power in the physical world, you are proved to be totally lacking, as was Napoleon, your prototype before you, in any true or vital sense of the awful responsibility such a gift confers upon you.” Each word of this speech Saul Hartz followed with care. But as the gravamen of the charge was unfolded, he took up Lien Weng sharply. “By what authority,” he interposed violently, “are you and your fellow fanatics”--he cast a glance of savage contempt at the pale, tense faces around him--“constituted your brother’s keeper?” “By that same authority,” said Lien Weng, “which confers upon you the power you wield.” “Whatever power I may wield,” said Saul Hartz, “has the sanction of the law.” “Of what law?” “The law implicit in the usages of all civilized communities.” “Sir, there we join issue.” Lien Weng looked solemnly at the others. With an oriental gravity that raised the act to the plane of ritual, he took a signet ring from the first finger of his right hand, for no apparent reason pressed it to his lips and then put it back again. “No law,” he went on in the same unchanging voice, “of man’s contrivance can be effective unless there lies behind the moral power to enforce it.” “I agree.” “Perhaps you do not realize that you and your friends, the members of this infamous International Newspaper Ring, are no longer to be permitted to carry out the policy for which you stand.” “What is the policy for which we stand?” “Giantism--world-power--in other words, enslavement and spoliation of the weak.” “Arrant nonsense!” “We shall gain nothing,” said Lien Weng “by bandying words. It has taken the Society of the Friends of Peace many months to reach a conclusion in this case of yours; and it has done so only after complete investigation of all the salient facts. Understand, sir, that all its verdicts are based upon reason, and that once moved to action it pursues an undeviating, a relentless course.” Saul Hartz made a gesture of contempt. “You are an illegal body. At best you are a murder club. You stand outside the law.”