go back to Spain overland to report success or failure
in the landing and disposal of their dangerous cargo.

All day the two men sat together, talking, plotting, preparing for all
contingencies.

There were no feminine voices to be heard on board the yacht now, no
singing on deck in the evenings, no hint of the presence of a woman,
either as wife, mistress, or companion.

They neither discussed nor recalled these vanished days, though one had
hours of memory and regret, and the other was consumed with a savage
hunger for that which he had lost.

Both had taken upon themselves vows that put them outside the pale of
human ties and affections.

The Goddess whom they both served had risen, claiming their allegiance,
their service, and with the lives and ways of mortal women they had no
concern. The Cause had triumphed.

CHAPTER XX

"Do you not know I am a woman?"
AS YOU LIKE IT.

Sobrenski was a man who wasted no time in making up his mind. His
success as a leader had depended upon his swiftness of action and
unscrupulousness, and his latest manoeuvres had turned out an admirable
success, upon which he might safely congratulate himself.

The day following the resolution of the Committee, he had written to
Arithelli, telling her to come to his flat to receive instructions.
She would arrive in due time, and then he would explain things.

He wondered whether she would faint or scream or perhaps refuse, but
probably she would be easier to manage now that Poleski was safely out
of the way. He had schemed that business well too, and could now spare
all his attention for Vardri and the girl.

As to the amount of work they both did, they would be no great loss,
for he could easily supply their places by other human machines who
would carry out his desires without question. The majority of the men
who composed the circle were completely dominated by him, and incapable
of opposing his will or argument, and by some he was worshipped as a
hero. Callous of suffering in others, he was equally indifferent to it
for himself, and if he did not spare his tools he also slaved
incessantly day and night.

The large bare room in which he sat possessed very little furniture and
no signs of comfort. There were a quantity of books piled on the floor
and mantelpiece, and the centre space was filled by an enormous bureau
heaped with a mass of printed and written papers, for besides his
extensive correspond