III

therearemanypersonswhobelievethistobeathingsopreciousthatitisabsolutelytheonethingworthlivingfor. ThecrossingtoDover,then,wasaccomplishedquitepeacefullybyPriscilla.Notso,however,byFritzing.He,tormentedman,chieftargetforthegoddess'sdarts,spenthistimeholdingontotherailalongtheturbine'ssideinordertosteadyhimselfandastherewasadeadcalmthatdaythereaderwillatonceperceivethatthetempestmusthavebeeninsideFritzinghimself.ItwasandithadbeenraisedtohurricanepitchbysomesnatchesofthetalkoftwoEnglishmenhehadheardastheypacedupanddownpastwherehewasstanding. Thefirsttimetheypassed,onewassayingtotheother,"Ineverheardofanythingsoinfamous." ThisoughtnottohavemadeFritzing,apersonofstainlesslifeandnobleprinciples,start,butitdid.Hestartedandhelistenedanxiouslyformore. "Yes,"saidtheother,whohadanewspaperunderhisarm,"theydeserveaboutasbadasthey'll—" Hewasoutofear-shotbutFritzingmechanicallyfinishedthesentencehimself.Whohadbeeninfamous?Andwhatweretheygoingtoget?Itwasatthispointthathelaidholdofthehandrailtosteadyhimselftillthetwomenshouldpassagain. "Youcantell,ofcourse,whatstepsourGovernmentwilltake,"wasthenextsnatch. "Ishallbecurioustoseetheattitudeoftheforeignpapers,"wasthenext. "AnythingmorewantonIneverheardof,"wasthenext. "Ofalltheharmless,innocentcreatures—"wasthenext. Andthelastsnatchofall—forthoughtheywentonwalkingFritzingheardnomoreafterit—wasthebriefandsingularexpression"Devils." Devils?Whatweretheytalkingabout?Devils?Wasthat,then,howthepublicstigmatizedblamelesspersonsinsearchofpeace?Devils?What,himselfand—no,neverPriscilla.Shewasclearlytheharmlessinnocentcreature,andhemustbetheotherthing.Butwhyplural?HecouldonlysupposethatheandAnnalisetogetherformedasulphurousplural.Heclungveryhardtotherail.Whocouldhavedreameditwouldgetsoquicklyintothepapers?Whocouldhavedreamedthenewsofitwouldcallforthsuchblazingwords?TheywouldbeconfrontedatDoverbyhorrifiedauthorities.HisPrincesswasgoingtobeputinamostimpossibleposition.Whathadhedone?Heave