over the city. He took the glass of wine which Selingman
was holding out and leaned towards him earnestly.

"My friend," he said, "it seems strange to me that we speak of these
things at such an hour. Yet let me tell you something. I don't know
why I want to tell you, but I do. I am not, perhaps, quite what you
think me. Only, the night you and I went north together, the gates of
that world which you speak of so easily were closed behind me."

"It was the other woman," Selingman exclaimed.

"It was the other woman," Maraton echoed.

Selingman set down the bottle upon the table. Two great tears rolled
down from his blue eyes. He held out both his hands and gripped
Maraton's.

"My friend," he said, "now indeed I love you! We are twin souls. You,
too, are human as you are wonderful. You see what an old woman I am.
This sentiment--oh, it will be the end of me! But tell me--I must know.
It was because you went north that it was ended?"

Maraton nodded slowly.

"I chose the opposite camp," he answered. "What could I do?"

"Nature," Selingman declared, brandishing a great silk handkerchief, "is
the queerest mistress who ever played pranks with us. Here, in the same
camp, dwells a divinity, and you--you must peer down into the lower
world. . . . Never mind, potted meat and hock are good. Julia," he
added, turning his head at the sound of the opening door, "to genius in
adversity all gentle familiarities are permitted. I grant myself the
privilege of your Christian name. Come and grace our feast. I have
found food and wine. I am your self-appointed caterer. There is no
butter, but that is simply one of those pleasant tests for us, a test of
will and fortitude. All my life until to-night I have loved butter.
From henceforth--until we can get it again--I detest it. Let us eat,
drink and be merry. Where is Aaron?"

"He went out into the streets," Julia replied. "He will be back
presently."

Aaron came in a few minutes later, struggling with the weight of the
parcels he was carrying. He laid them down upon the sideboard, and
turned towards Maraton with an air of triumph.

"I've been there, sir," he announced. "I've got the letters, your
private dispatch box, and a lot of papers we needed. It's only the
outside walls of the house that are charred. The fire was put out
almost at once. And I've seen Ernshaw."

Maraton's eyes were lit with pleasure.

"You're a fine fellow, Aaron," he commended.

"I've got my bicycle, t