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"Maxendorf and I have spoken many times of the future of this country. The dream which he outlined for you, he has spoken of to me with glittering eyes, with heaving chest, with trembling voice. It was his scheme that I should take you to him. You, too, believed as I did. To-night I visited him. I stepped in upon the one weak moment of his life. He needed a confidant.
Now the pendulum has just reached the other extreme. We've swung back once more into our silly dream. Oh, Maraton, it's true enough that we have great problems to face sociologically! Don't think that I underrate them. You know I don't. But every time I sit and talk to you, I have always at the back of my mind that other fear. . . . Have you seen Maxendorf to-night?"
Selingman transferred the flame to a piece of paper from the waste-paper basket and puffed contentedly at his cigar. "I light not cigars with a flavour like this, with a wax vesta," he explained. "Where was I? Oh, I know the news! This morning I have received a message. Maxendorf has left for England." Maraton smiled. "Is that all?" he said. "I could have told you that myself.
Maraton is here! No more just the simple announcement as though that fact alone were changing life. Very well. I will be your prophet and you shall be the people. I will say to you, as they cried to the Children of Israel groaning under their toil Maxendorf has come! Maxendorf is here!" Maraton was silent for a moment. He was sitting on the edge of the table, with folded arms.
Generations must pass before you can even weaken the hold of your bourgeoisie upon the soul and spirit of your land. You are tied hard and fast, and withal you are on the downward grade. The work which you do to-day, the next generation will undo. Give up this foolish legislation. Listen to Maxendorf. He will show you the way." "When you speak of fusion," Maraton asked, "you mean conquest?"
It is easy enough to play chess, but when the pawns are human lives, who would not hesitate?" Maxendorf sighed. "I cannot talk with you, Maraton," he said. "You will not speak with me honestly. You came, you landed on these shores with an inspired idea something magnificent, something worthy.
I shook the life nearly out of him. He knows that if we fail within these next twenty-four hours, your uncle and I, I am going to take what's left. I promised him that." Her eyes glowed. "You are a strange person," she declared. "How did you come to see the truth to know that you had been misled by Maxendorf?" "It was Selingman who told me," he explained.
"You do not understand the circumstances which I found existing on my arrival here," Maraton explained. "You do not understand the promises which I have received from Mr. Foley, and which he is already carrying into effect. You read of the Lancashire strike?" Maxendorf nodded his long head slowly but said nothing.
"We go to pay our respects to a man famous indeed, a man who will make history in your country." Mr. Foley's expression suddenly changed. He leaned a little across the table. "Are you speaking of Maxendorf?" Selingman nodded vigorously. "Since you have guessed it yes," he admitted. "We go to Maxendorf. I take Maraton there. It will be a great meeting. We three we represent much.
There was no reply. Maxendorf straightened his gaunt figure and turned around. He stood there motionless, the palm of one hand covering the map at which he had been gazing, the lamplight shining on his gaunt, strangely freckled face. "You!" he muttered. Maraton remained still speechless.
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