America has done nothing yet, and Spain is divided." "And the East ?" "The Emperor thanked Him; no more than that." Mabel drew a long breath, and stood looking out across the heat haze that was beginning to rise from the town beneath.

These were matters so vast that she could not take them in.

But to her imagination Europe lay like a busy hive, moving to and fro in the sunshine.

She saw the blue distance of France, the towns of Germany, the Alps, and beyond them the Pyrenees and sun-baked Spain; and all were intent on the same business, to capture if they could this astonishing figure that had risen over the world.

Sober England, too, was alight with zeal.