"My principals," Mr. Beldeman remarked slowly, "would like it to take place."
"Your principals, I presume," he said, "do not imagine that I am on the earth to gratify them, even though they did offer me--let me see, how much was it--a million pounds?"
"This time," Mr. Beldeman went on, "it is not a question of money."
"Not a question of money," Maraton repeated. "You don't want to buy me? What do you want to do, then?"
"We threaten," Mr. Beldeman pronounced calmly.
"Threaten," he murmured thoughtfully. "Come, do I understand you properly? Is it assassination, or anything of that sort, you're talking about?" Beldeman shook his head.
"Those are methods for extreme cases," he said. "Yours is not an extreme case. We do not threaten you, Mr. Maraton, with death, but we do threaten you with the death of your reputation, the end of your career as a political power in this country, if you do not see your way clear to act as we desire."
Maraton stood, for a few seconds, perfectly still.
"You have courage, Mr. Beldeman," he remarked.
"Sir," Mr. Beldeman replied, "I have been as near death as most men. That is why I occupy my present position. I am the special agent of the greatest political power in the world. When I choose to make use of my machinery, I can kill or spare, abduct, rob, ruin--what I choose. You I only threaten. I fancy that will be enough. We have our hold upon the press of this country."
Maraton walked to the door and back again.
"I killed a man once, Mr. Beldeman," he said, "who threatened me."
"You will not kill me," Mr. Beldeman declared, with gentle confidence in his tone.
"If I had known," Maraton continued softly, "I'd have wrung your neck at Manchester."
"Quite easy, I should say," Mr. Beldeman agreed. "You look strong. Without a doubt I could make you desperate. Better be reasonable. My people want the railway strike, the coal strike, and the iron strike--want them both within a month. Come, what are you afraid of? Stick to your colours, Mr. Maraton. Wasn't it in the North. American Review you declared that a war and conquest were the inevitable prelude of social reform in this country?"
"You did. Now you are here, you are afraid. Never mind, war and conquest are to come. We give you a month in which to deliver your message. You have, I believe, two large meetings to address before that date. Make your pronouncement and all will be well. The million is yours for the people."