pretty well banged up. Naturally I did not notice any scar. A
dreadfully black beard, shaven."

"Squat, powerful, like a gorilla. Lord, I wish I'd had a glimpse
of him! He's one of the few topnotchers I haven't met. He's the
spark, the hand on the plunger. The powder is all ready in this
land of ours; our job is to keep off the sparks until we can spread
the stuff so it will only go puff instead of bang. This man Karlov
is bad medicine for democracy. Poor devil!"

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I'm honestly sorry for them. This fellow Karlov has
suffered. He is now a species of madman nothing will cure. He and
his kind have gained their ends in Russia, but the impetus to kill
and burn and loot is still unchecked. Sorry, yes; but we can't have
them here. They remind me of nothing so much as those blind deep-sea
monsters in one of Kipling's tales, thrown up into air and sunlight
by a submarine volcano, slashing and bellowing. But we can't have
them here any longer. Keep those revolvers under your pillow. All
you have to do is to point. Nobody will know that you can't shoot.
And always remember, we're watching over you. Good-night."

"Mouquin's for lunch?"

"Well, I'll be hanged! But it can't be, Kitty. You and I must not
be seen in public. If that was Karlov you will be marked, and so
will any one who travels with you."

"Good gracious!"