"Didn’t I tell you that boy was falling in love with me? I found him fighting in the market-place. That was a week ago, since when he has adopted me, and now he is always kissing my hand or the hem of my gown, as who would say, ’I have none but her, and I love her like my eyes.’ A most dear little human dog, and I do believe—yes, I really do believe—if I wished it he would go to his death for me." Gordon, who was gloomy and dejected, and had been drumming on the window-pane without listening, then said— "Helena, can you imagine what it is to a soldier to feel that he is on the wrong side in battle? If he is to fight well he ought to feel that he is fighting for his country, his flag, and—justice. But when the position is the reverse of that; when, for example——" But at that moment the General came into the room and welcomed Gordon with a shout. "Just been writing to Alexandria, telling Jenkinson to keep a force in readiness for you night and day," he said. "Only way, my boy! Force is the one thing the Easterns understand. Of course we don’t want bloodshed, but if these rascals are telling the people that the power is not in our hands, or that England will not allow us to use it—we must let them see—we can’t help it. Glorious commission, Gordon! I congratulate you! My job, though, and there’s only one man I could give it up to—only one man in the world." And then Gordon, who had been biting his underlip, said, "I almost wish you could do it yourself, General." "Why, what the deuce——" "Gordon has been taking counsel with the Chancellor of El Azhar," said Helena, "and the old silly seems to have given him ’the eye’ or talked nonsense out of the noble Koran." "Not nonsense, Helena, and not out of the Koran, but out of the book of life itself," said Gordon, and after the black boy had brought in the tea, he told them what the Chancellor had said. "So you see," he said, "the preaching of this new prophet has nothing to do with England in Egypt—nothing more, at least, than with England in India, or South Africa, or even Canada itself. It transcends all that, and is teaching for the world, for humanity. Isn’t it true, too? Take what he says about the lust of empire, and look at the conduct of the Christian countries. They are praying in their churches ’that it may please Thee to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord,’ yet they are increasing their armaments every day. What for—defence? Certainly! But what does that mean?—fear of aggression. So, while in our King’s speeches and our President’s messages, in our newspapers and even in our pulpits we keep up the pretence that we are at peace with the world, we are always, according to the devil’s code of honour, preparing for the time when two high-spirited nations may find it convenient to fly at each other’s throats. Peace with the world! Lies, sir, all lies, and barefaced hypocrisy! The nations never are at peace with the world, never have been, never want to be."