"I asked it," went on Gwent--"because you seem to eliminate the
female element from your life altogether. Therefore, so I take it,
you are not at your full strength, either as a scientist or
philosopher. You are a kind of eagle, trying to fly high on one
wing. You'll need the other! There, don't look at me in that savage
way! I'm merely making my own comments on your position,--you
needn't mind them. I want to get out of the tangle-up of things you
have suggested. You fancy it would be easy to get the United States
Government to purchase your discovery and pledge themselves to use
it on occasion for the complete wiping out of a nation,--any nation-
-that decided to go to war,--and, failing their acceptance, or the
acceptance of any government on these lines, you purpose doing the
deed yourself. Well!--I can tell you straight away it's no use my
trying to negotiate such a business, The inhumanity of it is to
palpable."

"What of the inhumanity of war?" asked Seaton.

"That PAYS!" replied Gwent, with emphasis--"You don't, or won't,
seem to recognise that blistering fact! The inhumanity of war pays
everybody concerned in it except the fellows who fight to order.
They are the 'raw material.' They get used up. YOUR business
WOULDN'T 'pay.' And what won't 'pay' is no good to anybody in this
present sort of world."

Seaton, still standing erect, bent his eyes on the lean hard
features of his companion with eloquent scorn.

"So! Everything must be measured and tested by money!" he said--"And