.. Oh, an
insufferable affront to a man of his order who held even the dearest
woman as the favored pensioner on his bounty ... or she would be
consumed with remorse, melt ... it was positive that she must visit
him--not leave him to starve ... nor could she keep him bound ... and
once more she would be his slave ... could she hold out even for a day?
The first blow of a revolution is, after all, only its first. There is
always the danger of a swift reaction.
Unremitting vigilance, work, encouragement are the part of its leaders
for months, possibly years, to come. All revolutions are dependent for
ultimate success upon one preeminent figure.
Franz stirred under the unconscious fixity of her gaze and changed his
position, lying on his back. She hastily averted her eyes. Her hands
clenched and spread. Even to-morrow if this man found her ... one soft
moment ... when she needed all her energy, her fire, her powers of
concentration, of depersonalization, for the millions of tortured women
who would follow her straight out to meet any division the Emperor might
detach in the vain hope of subduing an army far outnumbering all that he
had left of men.
Nothing but a miracle could halt the initial stage of the revolution;
the wireless plants were all operated by women in her service, and no
telephone message had advised her of danger.
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