The Angel of the Revolution | Page 7

ever insulted his Maker with. It is
based on fraud, and sustained by force -- force that ruthlessly crushes
all who do not bow the knee to Mammon. I am the enemy of a society
that does nob permit a man to be honest and live, unless he has money
and can defy it. I have just two shillings in the world, and I would
rather throw them into the Thames and myself after them than take that
million from the Tsar in exchange for an engine of destruction that
would make him master of the world."
"Those are brave words," said Colston, with a smile. "Forgive me for
saying so, but I wonder whether you would repeat them if I told you
that I am a servant of his Majesty the Tsar, and that you shall have that
million for your model and your secret the moment that you convince
me that what you have told me is true."
Before he had finished speaking Arnold had risen to his feet. He heard
him out, and then he said, slowly and steadily--
"I should not take the trouble to repeat them; I should only tell you that
I am sorry that I have eaten salt with a man who could take advantage
of my poverty to insult me. Good night."
He was moving towards the door when Colston jumped up from his
chair, strode round the table, and got in front of him. Then he put his
two hands on his shoulders, and, looking straight into his eyes, said in a
tone that vibrated with emotion--
"Thank God, I have found an honest man at last! Go and sit down again,
my friend, my comrade, as I hope you soon will be. Forgive me for the
foolishness that I spoke! I am no servant of the Tsar. He and all like
him have no more devoted enemy on earth than I am. Look! I will soon
prove it to you."

As he said the last words, Colston let go Arnold's shoulders, flung off
his coat and waistcoat, slipped his braces off his shoulders, and pulled
his shirt up to his neck. Then he turned his bare back to his guest, and
said--
"That is the sign-manual of Russian tyranny -- the mark of the knout!"
Arnold shrank back with a cry of horror at the sight. From waist to
neck Colston's back was a mass of hideous scars and wheels, crossing
each other and rising up into purple lumps, with livid blue and grey
spaces between them. As he stood, there was not an inch of
naturally-coloured skin to be seen. It was like the back of a man who
had been flayed alive, and then flogged with a cat-o'-nine-tails.
Before Arnold had overcome his horror his host had readjusted his
clothing. Then he turned to him and said--
"That was my reward for telling the governor of a petty Russian town
that he was a brute-beast for flogging a poor decrepid old Jewess to
death. Do you believe me now when I say that I am no servant or friend
of the Tsar?"
"Yes, I do," replied Arnold, holding out his hand, "you were right to try
me, and I was wrong to be so hasty. It is a failing of mine that has done
me plenty of harm before now. I think I know now what you are
without your telling me. Give me a piece of paper and you shall have
my address, so that you can come to-morrow and see the model -- only
I warn you that you will have to pay my rent to keep my landlord's
hands off it. And then I must be off, for I see it's past twelve."
"You are not going out again to-night, my friend, while I have a sofa
and plenty of rugs at your disposal," said his host. " You will sleep here,
and in the morning we will go together and see this marvel of yours.
Meanwhile sit down and make yourself at home with another cigar. We
have only just begun to know each other -- we two enemies of
Society!"
CHAPTER III.

A FRIENDLY CHAT.
SOON after eight the next morning Colston came into the sitting-room
where Arnold had slept on the sofa, and dreamt dreams of war and
world-revolts and battles fought in mid-air between aerial navies built
on the plan of his own model. When Colston came in he was just
awake enough to be wondering whether the events of the previous night
were a reality or part of his dreams -- a doubt that was speedily set at
rest by his host drawing back the curtains and pulling up the blinds.
The moment his eyes were properly open he saw that he