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curtain　aside　and　disappeared。



For　a　moment　Graham　stood　with　the　deferential

attendant　listening　to　Ostrog's　retreating　steps。

There　was　a　sound　of　quick　question　and　answer　and

of　men　running。　The　curtain　was　snatched　back　and

Ostrog　reappeared；　his　massive　face　glowing　with

excitement。　He　crossed　the　room　in　a　stride；　clicked

the　room　into　darkness；　gripped　Grahams　arm　and

pointed　to　the　mirror。



〃Even　as　we　turned　away；〃　he　said。



Graham　saw　his　index　finger；　black　and　colossal；

above　the　mirrored　Council　House。　For　a　moment

he　did　not　understand。　And　then　he　perceived　that

the　flagstaff　that　had　carried　the　white　banner　was

bare。



〃Do　you　mean？〃　he　began。



〃The　Council　has　surrendered。　Its　rule　is　at　an

end　for　evermore。〃



〃Look！〃　and　Ostrog　pointed　to　a　coil　of　black　that

crept　in　little　jerks　up　the　vacant　flagstaff；　unfolding

as　it　rose。



The　oval　picture　paled　as　Lincoln　pulled　the　curtain

aside　and　entered。



〃They　are　clamourous；〃　he　said。



Ostrog　kept　his　grip　of　Graham's　arm。



〃We　have　raised　the　people；〃　he　said。　〃We　have

given　them　arms。　For　today　at　least　their　wishes

must　be　law。〃



Lincoln　held　the　Curtain　open　for　Graham　and

Ostrog　to　pass　through。



On　his　way　to　the　markets　Graham　had　a　transitory

glance　of　a　long　narrow　white…walled　room　in　which

men　in　the　universal　blue　canvas　were　carrying　

covered　things　like　biers；　and　about　which　men　in　medical

purple　hurried　to　and　fro。　From　this　room　came

groans　and　wailing。　He　had　an　impression　of　an

empty　blood…stained　couch；　of　men　on　other　couches；

bandaged　and　blood…stained。　It　was　just　a　glimpse

from　a　railed　footway　and　then　a　buttress　hid　the　place

and　they　were　going　on　towards　the　markets。



The　roar　of　the　multitude　was　near　now：　it　leapt　to

thunder。　And；　arresting　his　attention；　a　fluttering　of

black　banners；　the　waving　of　blue　canvas　and　brown

rags；　and　the　swarming　vastness　of　the　theatre　near

the　public　markets　came　into　view　down　a　long　

passage。　The　picture　opened　out。　He　perceived　they

were　entering　the　great　theatre　of　his　first　appearance；

the　Freat　theatre　he　had　last　seen　as　a　chequer…work

of　glare　and　blackness　in　his　flight　from　the　red　police。

This　time　he　entered　it　along　a　gallery　at　a　level　high

above　the　stage。　The　place　was　now　brilliantly

lit　again。　He　sought　the　gangway　up　which　he　had

fled；　but　he　could　not　tell　it　from　among　its　dozens　of

fellows；　nor　could　he　see　anything　of　the　smashed

seats；　deflated　cushions；　and　such　like　traces　of

the　fight　because　of　the　density　of　the　people。　Except

the　stage　the　whole　place　was　closely　packed。　Looking　

down　the　effect　was　a　vast　area　of　stippled　pink；

each　dot　a　still　upturned　face　regarding　him。　At　his

appearance　with　Ostrog　the　cheering　died　away；　the

singing　died　away；　a　common　interest　stilled　and　

unified　the　disorder。　It　seemed　as　though　every　

individual　of　those　myriads　was　watching　him。



CHAPTER　XIII



THE　END　OF　THE　OLD　ORDER



So　far　as　Graham　was　able　to　judge；　it　was　near

midday　when　the　white　banner　of　the　Council　fell。

But　some　hours　had　to　elapse　before　it　was　possible

to　effect　the　formal　capitulation；　and　so　after　he　had

spoken　his　〃Word〃　he　retired　to　his　new　apartments

in　the　wind…vane　offices。　The　continuous　excitement

of　the　last　twelve　hours　had　left　him　inordinately

fatigued；　even　his　curiosity　was　exhausted；　for　a　space

he　sat　inert　and　passive　with　open　eyes；　and　for　a　space

he　slept。　He　was　roused　by　two　medical　attendants；

come　prepared　with　stimulants　to　sustain　him　through

the　next　occasion。　After　he　had　taken　their　drugs

and　bathed　by　their　advice　in　cold　water；　he　felt　a

rapid　return　of　interest　and　energy；　and　was　presently

able　and　willing　to　accompany　Ostrog　through　several

miles　（as　it　seemed）　of　passages；　lifts；　and　slides　to　the

closing　scene　of　the　White　Council's　rule。



The　way　ran　deviously　through　a　maze　of　buildings。

They　came　at　last　to　a　passage　that　curved　about；　and

showed　broadening　before　him　an　oblong　opening；

clouds　hot　with　sunset；　and　the　ragged　skyline　of　the

ruinous　Council　House。　A　tumult　of　shouts　came

drifting　up　to　him。　In　another　moment　they　had　come

out　high　up　on　the　brow　of　the　cliff　of　torn　buildings

that　overhung　the　wreckage。　The　vast　area　opened

to　Graham's　eyes；　none　the　less　strange　and　wonderful

for　the　remote　view　he　had　had　of　it　in　the　oval　mirror。



This　rudely　amphitheatral　space　seemed　now　the

better　part　of　a　mile　to　its　outer　edge。　It　was　gold

lit　on　the　left　hand；　catching　the　sunlight；　and　below

and　to　the　right　clear　and　cold　in　the　shadow。　Above

the　shadowy　grey　Council　House　that　stood　in　the

midst　of　it；　the　great　black　banner　of　the　surrender

still　hung　in　sluggish　folds　against　the　blazing　sunset。

Severed　rooms；　halls　and　passages　gaped　strangely；

broken　masses　of　metal　projected　dismally　from　the

complex　wreckage；　vast　masses　of　twisted　cable

dropped　like　tangled　seaweed；　and　from　its　base　came

a　tumult　of　innumerable　voices；　violent　concussions；

and　the　sound　of　trumpets。　All　about　this　great　white

pile　was　a　ring　of　desolation；　the　smashed　and　

blackened　masses；　the　gaunt　foundations　and　ruinous　lumber　

of　the　fabric　that　had　been　destroyed　by　the　

Council's　orders；　skeletons　of　girders；　Titanic　masses　of　wall；

forests　of　stout　pillars。　Amongst　the　sombre　wreckage　

beneath；　running　water　flashed　and　glistened；　and

far　away　across　the　space；　out　of　the　midst　of　a　vague

vast　mass　of　buildings；　there　thrust　the　twisted　end　of

a　water…main；　two　hundred　feet　in　the　air；　

thunderously　spouting　a　shining　cascade。　And　everywhere

great　multitudes　of　people。



Wherever　there　was　space　and　foothold；　people

swarmed；　little　people；　small　and　minutely　clear；　except

where　the　sunset　touched　them　to　indistinguishable

gold。　They　clambered　up　the　tottering　walls；　they

clung　in　wreaths　and　groups　about　the　high…standing

pillars。　They　swarmed　along　the　edges　of　the　circle

of　ruins。　The　air　was　full　of　their　shouting；　and

were　pressing　and　swaying　towards　the　central　space。



The　upper　storeys　of　the　Council　House　seemed

deserted；　not　a　human　being　was　visible。　Only　the

drooping　banner　of　the　surrender　hung　heavily　against

the　light。　The　dead　were　within　the　Council　House；

or　hidden　by　the　swarming　people；　or　carried　away。

Graham　could　see　only　a　few　neglected　bodies　in　gaps

and　corners　of　the　ruins；　and　amidst　the　flowing　water。



〃Will　you　let　them　see　you；　Sire？〃　said　Ostrog。

〃They　are　very　anxious　to　see　you。〃



Graham　hesitated；　and　then　walked　forward　to

where　the　broken　verge　of　wall　dropped　sheer。　He　I

stood　looking　down；　a　lonely；　tall；　black　figure　against

the　sky。



Very　slowly　the　swarming　ruins　became　aware　of

him。　And　as　they　did　so　little　bands　of　black…

uniformed　men　appeared　remotely；　thrusting　through　the

crowds　towards　the　Council　House。　He　saw　little

black　heads　become　pink；　looking　at　him；　saw　by　that

means　a　wave　of　recognition　sweep　across　the　space。

It　occurred　to　him　that　he　should　accord　them　some

recognition。　He　held　up　his　arm；　then　pointed　to　the

Council　House　and　dropped　his　hand。　The　voices

below　became　unanimous；　gathered　volume；　came　up

to　him　as　multitudinous　wavelets　of　cheering。



The　western　sky　was　a　pallid　bluish　green；　and

Jupiter　shone　high　in　the　south；　before　the　capitulation

was　accomplished。　Above　was　a　slow　insensible

change；　the　advance　of　night　serene　and　beautiful；

below　was　hurry；　excitement；　conflicting　orders；

pauses；　spasmodic　developments　of　organisation；　a

vast　ascending　clamour　and　confusion。　Before　the

Council　came　out；　toiling　perspiring　men；　directed　by

a　conflict　of　shouts；　carried　forth　hundreds　of　those

who　had　perished　in　the　hand…to…hand　conflict　within

those　long　passages　and　chambers。



Guards　in　black　lined　the　way　that　the　Council

would　come；　and　as　far　as　the　eye　could　reach　into　the

hazy　blue　twilight　of　the　ruins；　and　swarming　now　at

every　possible　point　in　the　captured　Council　House

and　along　the　shattered　cliff　of　its　circumadjacent

buildings；　were　innumerable　people；　and　their　voices

even　when　they　were　not　cheering；　were　as　the　soughing　

of　the　sea　upon　a　pebble　beach。　Ostrog　had

chosen　a　huge　commanding　pile　of　crushed　and　over…

thrown　masonry；　and　on　this　a　stage　of　timbers　and

metal　girders　was　being　hastily　constructed。　Its

essential　parts　were　complete；　but　humming　and

clangorous　machinery　still　glared　fitfully　in　the

shadows　beneath　this　temporary　edifice。



The　stage　had　a　small　higher　portion　on　which　

Graham　stood　with　Ostrog　and　Lincoln　close　beside　him；

a　little　in　advance　of　a　group　of　minor　officers。　A

broader　lower　stage　surrounded　this　quarter　deck；　and

on　this　were　the　black…uniformed　guards　of　the　revolt

armed　with　the　little　green　weapons　whose　very　names

Graham　still　did　not　know。　Those　standing　about

him　perceived　that　his　eyes　wandered　perpetually　from

the　swarming　people　in　the　twilight　ruins　about　him

to　the　darkling　mass　of　the　White　Council　House；

whence　the　Trustees　would　presently　come；　and　to

the　gaunt　cliffs　of　ruin　that　encircled　him；　and　so　back

to　the　people。　The　voices　of　the　crowd　swelled　to　a

deafening　tumult。



He　saw　the　Councillors　first　afar　off　in　the　glare　of

one　of　the　temporary　lights　that　marked　their　path；

a　little　group　of　white　figures　blinking　in　a　black　

archway。　In　the　Council　House　they　had　been　in　darkness。　

He　watched　them　approaching；　drawing　nearer

past　first　this　blazing　electric　star　and　then　that；　the

minatory　roar　of　the　crowd　over　whom　their　power

had　lasted　for　a　hundred　and　fifty　years　marched　along

beside　them。　As　they　drew　still　nearer　their　faces

came　out　weary；　white　and　anxious。　He　saw

them　blinking　up　through　the　glare　about　him　and

Ostrog。　He　cont