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suffered his thoughts to go back to the new thing which had crept into his life。 He was suddenly back in the Milan； he saw the backward turn of her head； the almost wistful look in her eyes as she made her little pronouncement。 She had broken her engagement。 Why？ It was a battle； indeed； he was fighting with that still； cold antagonist； whom he half despised and half feared； the man concerning whose actual personality he had felt so many doubts。 What if things should go wrong to…night； if the whole dramatic story should be handed over for the glory and wonder of the halfpenny press！ He could fancy their headlines； imagine even their trenchant paragraphs。 It was skating on the thinnest of iceand for what？ His fingers gripped the damp window…sill。 He raised himself a little higher。 His eyes fell upon his watchstill a minute or two to twelve。 Slowly he stole to his door and listened。 The place was silent。 He made his way on tiptoe across the landing and entered Collins' room。 The latter was seated before the wide…open window。 He had blown out his candle and the room was in darkness。 He half turned his head at Granet's entrance。
〃Two minutes！〃 he exclaimed softly。 〃Granet； it will be to…night。 Are you ready？〃
〃Absolutely！〃
They stood by the open window in silence。 Nothing had changed。 It was not yet time for the singing of the earliest birds。 The tiny village lay behind them； silent and asleep； in front； nothing but the marshes； uninhabited； lonely and quiet； the golf club…house empty and deserted。 They stood and watched； their faces turned steadfastly in a certain direction。 Gradually their eyes； growing accustomed to the dim and changing light； could pierce the black line above the grey where the sea came stealing up the sandy places with low murmurs； throwing with every wave longer arms into the land。
〃Twelve o'clock！〃 Collins muttered。
Suddenly Granet's fingers dug into his shoulder。 From out of that pall of velvet darkness which hung below the clouds； came for a single moment a vision of violet light。 It rose apparently from nowhere； it passed away into space。 It was visible barely for five seconds； then it had gone。 Granet spoke with a little sob。
〃My God！〃 he murmured。 〃They're coming！〃
Collins was already on his feet。 He had straightened himself wonderfully； and there was a new alertness in his manner。 He； too； wore rubber shoes and his movements were absolutely noiseless。 He carried a little electric torch in his hand； which he flashed around the room while he placed several small articles in his pocket。 Then he pushed open the door and listened。 He turned back； held up his finger and nodded。 The two men passed down the stairs； through the sitting…room； out on to the lawn by a door left unfastened； and round the house to the shed。 Together they pushed the car down the slight incline of the drive。 Granet mounted into the driving…seat and pressed the self…starter。 Collins took the place by his side。
〃Remember；〃 Granet whispered； 〃we heard something and I met you in the hall。 Sit tight。〃
They sped with all the silence and smoothness of their six…cylinder up the tree…hung road； through the sleeping village and along the narrow lane to Market Burnham。 When they were within about a hundred yards of the gate； Granet brought the car to a standstill。
〃There are at least two sentries that way；〃 he said； 〃and if Sir Meyville told me the truth； they may have a special guard of Marines out to…night。 This is where we take to the marshes。 Listen。 Can you hear anything？〃
They both held their breath。
〃Nothing yet；〃 Collins muttered。 〃Let's get the things out quickly。〃
Granet hurried to the back of the car； ripping open the coverings。 In a few moments they had dragged over the side a small collapsible boat of canvas stretched across some bamboo joints； with two tiny sculls。 They clambered up the bank。
〃The creek must be close here；〃 Granet whispered。 〃Don't show a light。 Listen！〃
This time they could hear the sound of an engine beating away in the boat…house on the other side of the Hall。 Through the closely…drawn curtains； too； they could see faint fingers of light from the house on the sea。
〃They are working still；〃 Granet continued。 〃Look out； Collins； that's the creek。〃
They pushed the boat into the middle of the black arm of water and stepped cautiously into it。 Taking one of the paddles； Granet； kneeling down； propelled it slowly seaward。 Once or twice they ran into the bank and had to push off； but very soon their eyes grew accustomed to the darkness。 By degrees the creek broadened。 They passed close to the walls of the garden； and very soon they were perceptibly nearer the quaintly…situated workshop。 Granet paused for a moment from his labours。
〃The Hall is dark enough；〃 he muttered。 〃Listen！〃
They heard the regular pacing of a sentinel in the drive。 Nearer to them； on the top of the wall； they fancied that they heard the clash of a bayonet。 Granet dropped his voice to the barest whisper。
〃We are close there now。 Stretch out your hand； Collins。 Can you feel a shelf of rock？〃
〃It's just in front of me；〃 was the stifled answer。
〃That's for the stuff。 Down with it。〃
For a few moments Collins was busy。 Then； with a little gasp； he gripped Granet's arm。 His voice； shaking with nervous repression； was still almost hysterical。
〃They're coming； Granet！ My God； they're coming！〃
Both men turned seaward。 Far away in the clouds； it seemed； they could hear a faint humming； some new sound； something mechanical in its regular beating； yet with clamorous throatiness of some human force cleaving its way through the resistless air。 With every second it grew louder。 The men stood clutching one another。
〃Have you got the fuse ready？ They must hear it in a moment。〃 Granet muttered。
Collins assented silently。 The reverberations became louder and louder。 Soon the air was full of echoes。 From far away inland dogs were barking； from a farm somewhere the other side of the road they heard the shout of a single voice。
〃Now；〃 Granet whispered。
Collins leaned forward。 The fuse in his hand touched the dark substance which he had spread out upon the rock。 In a moment a strange； unearthly； green light seemed to roll back the darkness。 The house； the workshop； the trees； the slowly flowing sea； their own ghastly faceseverything stood revealed in a blaze of hideous； awful light。 For a moment they forgot themselves； they forgot the miracle they had brought to pass。 Their eyes were rivetted skyward。 High above them； something blacker than the heavens themselves； stupendous； huge； seemed suddenly to assume to itself shape。 The roar of machinery was clearly audible。 From the house came the mingled shouting of many voices。 Something dropped into the sea a hundred yards away with a screech and a hiss； and a geyser…like fountain leapt so high that the spray reached them。 Then there was a sharper sound as a rifle bullet whistled by。
〃My God！〃 Granet exclaimed。 〃It's time we were out of this； Collins！〃
He seized his scull。 Even at that moment there was a terrific explosion。 A stream of lurid fire seemed to