Maraton for a moment seemed puzzled.

"Threaten," he murmured thoughtfully. "Come, do I understand you
properly? Is it assassination, or anything of that sort, you're talking
about?" Beldeman shook his head.

"Those are methods for extreme cases," he said. "Yours is not an
extreme case. We do not threaten you, Mr. Maraton, with death, but we
do threaten you with the death of your reputation, the end of your
career as a political power in this country, if you do not see your way
clear to act as we desire."

Maraton stood, for a few seconds, perfectly still.

"You have courage, Mr. Beldeman," he remarked.

"Sir," Mr. Beldeman replied, "I have been as near death as most men.
That is why I occupy my present position. I am the special agent of the
greatest political power in the world. When I choose to make use of my
machinery, I can kill or spare, abduct, rob, ruin--what I choose. You I
only threaten. I fancy that will be enough. We have our hold upon the
press of this country."

Maraton walked to the door and back again.

"I killed a man once, Mr. Beldeman," he said, "who threatened me."

"You will not kill me," Mr. Beldeman declared, with gentle confidence
in his tone.

"If I had known," Maraton continued softly, "I'd have wrung your neck at
Manchester."

"Quite easy, I should say," Mr. Beldeman agreed. "You look strong.
Without a doubt I could make you desperate. Better be reasonable. My
people want the railway strike, the coal strike, and the iron
strike--want them both within a month. Come, what are you afraid of?
Stick to your colours, Mr. Maraton. Wasn't it in the North. American
Review you declared that a war and conquest were the inevitable prelude
of social reform in this country?"

"Did I say that?" Maraton asked.

"You did. Now you are here, you are afraid. Never mind, war and
conquest are to come. We give you a month in which to deliver your
message. You have, I believe, two large meetings to address before that
date. Make your pronouncement and all will be well. The million is
yours for the people."

"A sort of gigantic blackmail," Maraton remarked drily.

"You can call it what you like. If you have conditions to make, I am
prepared to listen. I do not insult you by offering--"

Maraton flung open the door a little noisily.

"That will do, Mr. Beldeman," he said. "I congratulate you upon the
manner in which you have conducted this interview. I presume I shall
see you again one day befor