ach city many images
had been set up.

Though neither Ralph Bastin, or George Bullen had now anything to do
with journalism--they could not obtain work of any kind because of the
absence of the "mark of the Beast" upon their foreheads. But both were
journalists by nature, hence when they knew that the image of the Beast
was to be set up in St. Paul's on a given Sunday, they determined to be
present to see how far this basest of idolatry had really laid hold of
London.

The trio lived together in a little house, in a by-street in
Bloomsbury. Rose would never allow her husband to go out without her;
the times were too perilous, either for him to be in the streets, or
for her to remain alone at home. In the actual language of Ruth, she
had said to him:--

"_Entreat me not to leave thee:--for whither thou goest I will go;
where thou lodgest, I will lodge; . . . where thou diest, I will
die; . . . the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part
thee and me_."

On reaching the Mansion House--the old building was still there, though
used for another purpose--they were amazed at the excitement which
prevailed in the streets. Thousands of excited people were moving
westwards, many of them evidently bound for St. Paul's.

_Every_one seemed to be wearing the brand of the "Beast," and more than
once our trio came very near to being set upon, for that they were
defying public opinion, as well as the command of the All-Supreme
Director of consciences as well as lives--Apleon--by the absence of the
"Mark" upon them.

Arrived at the cathedral they had no difficulty in getting in, since
the hour was early, and a rumour having obtained credence that the
great idol was to be wheeled out upon the steps of the cathedral, the
vast bulk of would-be worshippers remained outside of the huge building.

Presently these outside must have become acquainted with the falseness
of the rumour for there was a tremendous rush into the building, until,
in three minutes, it was packed to its utmost limits.

Ralph, George and Rose had secured seats, in the centre of the third
row, almost under the great dome, for they wanted to get as perfect a
view of the image as possible.

The hum of several thousand voices, as the gathered people gossipped
about the image, made quite a volume of sound. Every eye was fixed on
the great golden statue. It was a wondrous piece of work and the
likeness of Apleon was an extraordinary one. The p