"I asked it," went on Gwent--"because you seem to eliminate the female element from your life altogether. Therefore, so I take it, you are not at your full strength, either as a scientist or philosopher. You are a kind of eagle, trying to fly high on one wing. You'll need the other! There, don't look at me in that savage way! I'm merely making my own comments on your position,--you needn't mind them. I want to get out of the tangle-up of things you have suggested. You fancy it would be easy to get the United States Government to purchase your discovery and pledge themselves to use it on occasion for the complete wiping out of a nation,--any nation--that decided to go to war,--and, failing their acceptance, or the acceptance of any government on these lines, you purpose doing the deed yourself. Well!--I can tell you straight away it's no use my trying to negotiate such a business, The inhumanity of it is to palpable." "What of the inhumanity of war?" asked Seaton. "That PAYS!" replied Gwent, with emphasis--"You don't, or won't, seem to recognise that blistering fact! The inhumanity of war pays everybody concerned in it except the fellows who fight to order. They are the 'raw material.' They get used up. YOUR business WOULDN'T 'pay.' And what won't 'pay' is no good to anybody in this present sort of world." Seaton, still standing erect, bent his eyes on the lean hard features of his companion with eloquent scorn. "So! Everything must be measured and tested by money!" he said--"And yet you senators talk of reform!--of a 'new' world!--of a higher code of conduct between man and man--" "Yes, we talk"--interrupted Gwent--"But we don't mean what we say!--we should never think of meaning it!" "'Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!'" quoted Seaton with passionate emphasis. "Just so! The Lord Christ said it two thousand years ago, and it's true to-day! We haven't improved!" With an impatient movement, Seaton strode to the door of his hut and looked out at the wide sky,--then turned back again. Gwent watched him critically. "After all," he said, "It isn't as if you wanted anything of anybody. Money is no object of yours. If it were I should advise your selling your discovery to Morgana Royal,--she'd buy it--and, I tell you what!--SHE'D USE IT!" "Thanks!" and Seaton nodded curtly--"I can use it myself!" "True!" And Gwent looked interestedly at his dwindling Havana--"You can!" There followed a pause during which Gwent thought of the strange predicament in which the world might find itself, under the scientific rule of one man who had it in his power to create a terrific catastrophe without even "showing his hand." "Anyway, Seaton, you surely want to make something out of life for yourself, don't you?" "What IS there to be made out of it?" he asked. "Well!-happiness--the physical pleasure of living--"