the first to leap into the garden, with an earth-spurning
leap like that of one who could really spread his wings and fly. MacIan,
who came an instant after, was less full of mere animal gusto and fuller
of a more fearful and quivering pleasure in the clear and innocent
flower colours and the high and holy trees. With one bound they were in
that cool and cleared landscape, and they found just outside the door
the black-clad gentleman with the cloven chin smilingly regarding them;
and his chin seemed to grow longer and longer as he smiled.

XVIII. A RIDDLE OF FACES

Just behind him stood two other doctors: one, the familiar Dr. Quayle,
of the blinking eyes and bleating voice; the other, a more commonplace
but much more forcible figure, a stout young doctor with short,
well-brushed hair and a round but resolute face. At the sight of the
escape these two subordinates uttered a cry and sprang forward, but
their superior remained motionless and smiling, and somehow the lack
of his support seemed to arrest and freeze them in the very gesture of
pursuit.

"Let them be," he cried in a voice that cut like a blade of ice; and not
only of ice, but of some awful primordial ice that had never been water.

"I want no devoted champions," said the cutting voice; "even the folly
of one's friends bores one at last. You don't suppose I should have let
these lunatics out of their cells without good reason. I have the best
and fullest reason. They can be let out of their cell today, because
today the whole world has become their cell. I will have no more
medieval mummery of chains and doors. Let them wander about the earth as
they wandered about this garden, and I shall still be their easy master.
Let them take the wings of the morning and abide in the uttermost parts
of the sea--I am there. Whither shall they go from my presence and
whither shall they flee from my spirit? Courage, Dr. Quayle, and do
not be downhearted; the real days of tyranny are only beginning on this
earth."

And with that the Master laughed and swung away from them, almost as if
his laugh was a bad thing for people to see.

"Might I speak to you a moment?" said Turnbull, stepping forward with
a respectful resolution. But the shoulders of the Master only seemed to
take on a new and unexpected angle of mockery as he strode away.

Turnbull swung round with great abruptness to the other two doctors, and
said, harshly: "What in snakes does he mean--and who are