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them down。 A woman climbed up and began to scream out something
which could only be heard by a few reporters gathered round her。
I thought her an unpleasant…looking person； and evidently her
remarks were not palatable to the majority of her auditors。 There
was a rush； and she was dragged from the base of one of
Landseer's lions on which she stood。 Her skirt was half rent off
her and her bodice split down the back。 Finally； she was conveyed
away； kicking； biting； and scratching； by a number of police。 It
was a disgusting sight； and tumult ensued。
〃Let us go；〃 said Oro。 〃Your officers of order are good； the
rest is not good。〃
Later we found ourselves opposite to the doors of a famous
restaurant where a magnificent and gigantic commissionaire helped
ladies from motor…cars； receiving in return money from the men
who attended on them。 We entered； it was the hour of dinner。 The
place sparkled with gems； and the naked backs of the women
gleamed in the electric light。 Course followed upon course；
champagne flowed； a fine band played； everything was costly；
everything was； in a sense； repellent。
〃These are the wealthy citizens of a nation engaged in fighting
for its life；〃 remarked Oro to me； stroking his long beard。 〃It
is interesting； very interesting。 Let us go。〃
We went out and on； passing a public…house crowded with women
who had left their babies in charge of children in the icy
street。 It was a day of Intercession for the success of England
in the war。 This was placarded everywhere。 We entered； or；
rather； Oro did； I following him； one of the churches in the
Strand where an evening service was in progress。 The preacher in
the pulpit； a very able man； was holding forth upon the necessity
for national repentance and self…denial； also of prayer。 In the
body of the church exactly thirty…two people； most of them
elderly women； were listening to him with an air of placid
acceptance。
〃The priest talks well； but his hearers are not many； said Oro。
〃Let us go。〃
We came to the flaunting doors of a great music…hall and passed
through them； though to others this would have been impossible；
for the place was filled from floor to roof。 In its promenades
men were drinking and smoking； while gaudy women； painted and
low…robed； leered at them。 On the stage girls danced； throwing
their legs above their heads。 Then they vanished amidst applause；
and a woman in a yellow robe； who pretended to be tipsy； sang a
horrible and vulgar song full of topical allusions； which was
received with screams of delight by the enormous audience。
〃Here the hearers are very many； but those to whom they listen
do not talk well。 Let us go；〃 said Oro； and we went。
At a recruiting station we paused a moment to consider posters
supposed to be attractive； the very sight of which sent a thrill
of shame through me。 I remember that the inscription under one of
them was： 〃What will your best girl say？〃
〃Is that how you gather your soldiers？ Later it will be
otherwise；〃 said Oro； and passed on。
We reached Blackfriars and entered a hall at the doors of which
stood women in poke…bonnets； very sweet…faced； earnest…looking
women。 Their countenances seemed to strike Oro； and he motioned
me to follow him into the hall。 It was quite full of a miserable…
looking congregation of perhaps a thousand people。 A man in the
blue and red uniform of the Salvation Army was preaching of duty
to God and country； of self…denial； hope and forgiveness。 He
seemed a humble person； but his words were earnest； and love
flowed from him。 Some of his miserable congregation wept； others
stared at him open…mouthed； a few； who were very weary； slept。 He
called them up to receive pardon； and a number； led by the sweet…
faced women； came and knelt before him。 He and others whispered
to them； then seemed to bless them； and they rose with their
faces changed。
〃Let us go；〃 said Oro。 〃I do not understand these rites； but at
last in your great and wonderful city I have seen something that
is pure and noble。〃
We went out。 In the streets there was great excitement。 People
ran to and fro pointing upwards。 Searchlights； like huge fingers
of flame； stole across the sky； guns boomed。 At last； in the
glare of a searchlight； we saw a long and sinister object
floating high above us and gleaming as though it were made of
silver。 Flashes came from it followed by terrible booming reports
that grew nearer and nearer。 A house collapsed with a crash just
behind us。
〃Ah！〃 said Oro； with a smile。 〃I know thisit is war； war as
it was when the world was different and yet the same。〃
As he spoke； a motor…bus rumbled past。 Another flash and
explosion。 A man； walking with his arms round the waist of a girl
just ahead of us； seemed to be tossed up and to melt。 The girl
fell in a heap on the pavement； somehow her head and her feet had
come quite close together and yet she appeared to be sitting
down。 The motor…bus burst into fragments and its passengers
hurtled through the air； mere hideous lumps that had been men and
women。 The head of one of them came dancing down the pavement
towards us； a cigar still stuck in the corner of its mouth。
〃Yes； this is war；〃 said Oro。 〃It makes me young again to see
it。 But does this city of yours understand？〃
We watched a while。 A crowd gathered。 Policemen ran up；
ambulances came。 The place was cleared； and all that was left
they carried away。 A few minutes later another man passed by with
his arm round the waist of another girl。 Another motor…bus
rumbled up； and； avoiding the hole in the roadway； travelled on；
its conductor keeping a keen look…out for fares。
The street was cleared by the police； the airship continued its
course； spawning bombs in the distance； and vanished。 The
incident was closed。
〃Let us go home；〃 said Oro。 〃I have seen enough of your great
and wonderful city。 I would rest in the quiet of Nyo and think。〃
The next thing that I remember was the voice of Bastin； saying：
〃If you don't mind； Arbuthnot； I wish that you would get up。
The Glittering Lady （he still called her that） is coming here to
have a talk with me which I should prefer to be private。 Excuse
me for disturbing you； but you have overslept yourself； indeed； I
think it must be nine o'clock； so far as I can judge by the sun；
for my watch is very erratic now； ever since Bickley tried to
clean it。〃
〃I am sorry； my dear fellow；〃 I said sleepily； 〃but do you know
I thought I was in Londonin fact； I could swear that I have
been there。〃
〃Then；〃 interrupted Bickley； who had followed Bastin into the
hut； giving me that doubtful glance with which I was now
familiar； 〃I wish to goodness that you had brought back an
evening paper with you。〃
A night or two later I was again suddenly awakened to feel that
Oro was approaching。 He appeared like a ghost in the bright
moonlight； greeted me； and said：
〃Tonig