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〃It is true； it certainly is true； but I never thought of it before。〃
〃Nobody ever thinks of it。 But it's so； just the same。 In those mines
and prisons are gathered together the very finest and noblest and
capablest multitude of human beings that God is able to create。 Now if
you had that kind of a population to sell； would you offer it to a
despotism？ No； the despotism has no use for it； you would lose money。
A despotism has no use for anything but human cattle。 But suppose you
want to start a republic？〃
〃Yes； I see。 It's just； the material for it。〃
〃Well； I should say so！ There's Siberia with just the very finest and
choicest material on the globe for a republic； and more comingmore
coming all the time； don't you see！ It is being daily； weekly； monthly
recruited by the most perfectly devised system that has ever been
invented； perhaps。 By this system the whole of the hundred millions of
Russia are being constantly and patiently sifted； sifted； sifted； by
myriads of trained experts； spies appointed by the Emperor personally；
and whenever they catch a man； woman or child that has got any brains or
education or character； they ship that person straight to Siberia。 It is
admirable； it is wonderful。 It is so searching and so effective that it
keeps the general level of Russian intellect and education down to that
of the Czar。〃
〃Come； that sounds like exaggeration。〃
〃Well； it's what they say anyway。 But I think； myself； it's a lie。 And
it doesn't seem right to slander a whole nation that way； anyhow。 Now；
then； you see what the material is； there in Siberia； for a republic。〃
He paused； and his breast began to heave and his eye to burn； under the
impulse of strong emotion。 Then his words began to stream forth； with
constantly increasing energy and fire； and he rose to his feet as if to
give himself larger freedom。 〃The minute I organize that republic； the
light of liberty； intelligence； justice； humanity； bursting from it；
flooding from it； flaming from it； will concentrate the gaze of the whole
astonished world as upon the miracle of a new sun； Russia's countless
multitudes of slaves will rise up and march； march！eastward； with that
great light transfiguring their faces as they come； and far back of them
you will see…what will you see？a vacant throne in an empty land！ It
can be done； and by God I will do it！〃
He stood a moment bereft of earthy consciousness by his exaltation； then
consciousness returned； bringing him a slight shock； and he said with
grave earnestness：
〃I must ask you to pardon me； Major Hawkins。 I have never used that
expression before； and I beg you will forgive it this time。〃
Hawkins was quite willing。
〃You see； Washington； it is an error which I am by nature not liable to。
Only excitable people； impulsive people； are exposed to it。 But the
circumstances of the present caseI being a democrat by birth and
preference； and an aristocrat by inheritance and relish〃
The earl stopped suddenly； his frame stiffened； and he began to stare
speechless through the curtainless window。 Then he pointed； and gasped
out a single rapturous word：
〃Look！〃
〃What is it； Colonel？〃
〃IT！〃
〃No！〃
〃Sure as you're born。 Keep perfectly still。 I'll apply the influence
I'll turn on all my force。 I've brought It thus farI'll fetch It right
into the house。 You'll see。〃
He was making all sorts of passes in the air with his hands。
〃There！ Look at that。 I've made It smile！ See？〃
Quite true。 Tracy； out for an afternoon stroll； had come unexpectantly
upon his family arms displayed upon this shabby house…front。 The
hatchments made him smile； which was nothing； they had made the
neighborhood cats do that。
〃Look； Hawkins； look！ I'm drawing It over！〃
〃You're drawing it sure； Rossmore。 If I ever had any doubts about
materialization； they're gone； now； and gone for good。 Oh； this is a
joyful day！〃
Tracy was sauntering over to read the door…plate。 Before he was half way
over he was saying to himself； 〃Why； manifestly these are the American
Claimant's quarters。〃
〃It's coming…coming right along。 I'll slide； down and pull It in。 You
follow after me。〃
Sellers； pale and a good deal agitated； opened the door and confronted
Tracy。 The old man could not at once get his voice： then he pumped out a
scattering and hardly coherent salutation； and followed it with
〃Walk in； walk right in； Mr。er〃
〃TracyHoward Tracy。〃
〃Tracythanks…walk right in； you're expected。〃
Tracy entered； considerably puzzled； and said：
〃Expected？ I think there must be some mistake。〃
〃Oh； I judge not；〃 said Sellers； whonoticing that Hawkins had arrived；
gave him a sidewise glance intended to call his close attention to a
dramatic effect which he was proposing to produce by his next remark。
Then he said； slowly and impressively〃I amYOU KNOW WHO。〃
To the astonishment of both conspirators the remark produced no dramatic
effect at all； for the new comer responded with a quite innocent and
unembarrassed air
〃No； pardon me。 I don't know who you are。 I only supposebut no doubt
correctlythat you are the gentleman whose title is on the doorplate。〃
〃Right； quite rightsit down； pray sit down。〃 The earl was rattled；
thrown off his bearings； his head was in a whirl。 Then he noticed
Hawkins standing apart and staring idiotically at what to him was the
apparition of a defunct man； and a new idea was born to him。 He said to
Tracy briskly：
〃But a thousand pardons； dear sir； I am forgetting courtesies due to a
guest and stranger。 Let me introduce my friend General HawkinsGeneral
Hawkins； our new Senator…Senator from the latest and grandest addition to
the radiant galaxy of sovereign States； Cherokee Strip〃（to himself；
〃that name will shrivel him up！〃but it didn't； in the least； and the
Colonel resumed the introduction piteously disheartened and amazed）；
〃Senator Hawkins； Mr。 Howard Tracy； ofer〃
〃England。〃
〃England！Why that's im〃
〃England； yes； native of England。〃
〃Recently from there？〃
〃Yes； quite recently。〃
Said the Colonel to himself； 〃This phantom lies like an expert。
Purifying this kind by fire don't work。 I'll sound him a little further；
give him another chance or two to work his gift。〃 Then aloudwith deep
irony
〃Visiting our great country for recreation and amusement； no doubt。
I suppose you find that traveling in the majestic expanses of our Far
West is〃
〃I haven't been West； and haven't been devoting myself to amusement with
any sort of exclusiveness； I assure you。 In fact； to merely live； an
artist has got to work； not play。〃
〃Artist！〃 said Hawkins to himself； thinking of the rifled bank； 〃that is
a name for it！〃
〃Are you an artist？〃 asked the colonel； and added to himself； 〃now I'm
going to catch him。〃
〃In a humble way； yes。〃
〃What line？〃 pursued the sly veteran。
〃Oils。〃
〃I've got him！〃 said Sellers to himself。 Then aloud； 〃This is fortunate。
Could I engage you to restore some of my paintings that need that
attention？〃
〃I shall be very glad。 Pray let me see them。〃
No shuffling； no evasion； no embarrassment； even under this crucial test。
The