Mr. Stenson rose to his feet.
The glare of the unshaded lamp fell upon his strained face. He
seemed to have grown older and thinner since his entrance into the
room.
"I can neither better nor weaken my cause by remaining," he said.
"Only let this be my parting word to you. Upon my soul as an
Englishman, I believe that if you send out those telegrams
to-night, if you use your hideous and deadly weapon against me
and the Government, I believe that you will be guilty of this
country's ruin, as you certainly will of her dishonour. You have
the example of Russia before you. And I will tell you this, too,
which take into your hearts. There isn't one of those men who are
marching, perhaps to-night, perhaps tomorrow, to a possible death,
who would thank you for trying, to save their lives or bodies at
the expense of England's honour. Those about to die would be your
sternest critics. I can say no more."
Julian walked with the Premier towards the door.
"Mr. Stenson," he declared, "you have said just what could be said
from your point of view, and God knows, even now, who is in the
right! You are looking at the future with a very full knowledge
of many things of which we are all ignorant. You have, quite
naturally, too, the politician's hatred of the methods these
people propose. I myself am inclined to think that they are a
little hasty."
"Orden," Mr. Stenson replied sternly, "I did not come to you
to-night as a politician. I have spoken as a man and an
Englishman, as I speak to you now.
Pages:
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232