Hewatchedthemapproaching，drawingnearerpastfirstthisblazingelectricstarandthenthat；theminatoryroarofthecrowdoverwhomtheirpowerhadlastedforahundredandfiftyyearsmarchedalongbesidethem。Astheydrewstillnearertheirfacescameoutweary，whiteandanxious。HesawthemblinkingupthroughtheglareabouthimandOstrog。HecontrastedtheirstrangecoldlooksintheHallofAtlas……Presentlyhecouldrecogniseseveralofthem；themanwhohadrappedthetableatHoward，aburlymanwitharedbeard，andonedelicate—featured，short，darkmanwithapeculiarlylongskull。HenotedthattwowerewhisperingtogetherandlookingbehindhimatOstrog。Nexttherecameatall，darkandhandsomeman，walkingdowncast。
　　Abruptlyheglancedup，hiseyestouchedGrahamforamoment，andpassedbeyondhimtoOstrog。Thewaythathadbeenmadeforthemwassocontrivedthattheyhadtomarchpastandcurveaboutbeforetheycametotheslopingpathofplanksthatascendedtothestagewheretheirsurrenderwastobemade。
　　"TheMaster，theMaster！GodandtheMaster，"
　　shoutedthepeople。"TohellwiththeCouncil！"
　　Grahamlookedattheirmultitudes，recedingbeyondcountingintoashoutinghaze，andthenatOstrogbesidehim，whiteandsteadfastandstill。HiseyewentagaintothelittlegroupofWhiteCouncillors。
　　Andthenhelookedupatthefamiliarquietstarsoverhead。Themarvellouselementinhisfatewassuddenlyvivid。Couldthatbehisindeed，thatlittlelifeinhismemorytwohundredyearsgoneby——andthisaswell？
　　CHAPTERXIV
　　FROMTHECROWSNEST
　　Andsoafterstrangedelaysandthroughanavenueofdoubtandbattle，thismanfromthenineteenthcenturycameatlasttohispositionattheheadofthatcomplexworld。
　　AtfirstwhenherosefromthelongdeepsleepthatfollowedhisrescueandthesurrenderoftheCouncil，hedidnotrecognisehissurroundings。Byanefforthegainedaclueinhismind，andallthathadhappenedcamebacktohim，atfirstwithaqualityofinsinceritylikeastoryheard，likesomethingreadoutofabook。Andevenbeforehismemorieswereclear，theexultationofhisescape，thewonderofhisprominencewerebackinhismind。Hewasownerofhalftheworld；MasteroftheEarth。Thisnewgreatagewasinthecompletestsensehis。Henolongerhopedtodiscoverhisexperiencesadream；hebecameanxiousnowtoconvincehimselfthattheywerereal。
　　Anobsequiousvaletassistedhimtodressunderthedirectionofadignifiedchiefattendant，alittlemanwhosefaceproclaimedhimJapanese，albeithespokeEnglishlikeanEnglishman。Fromthelatterhelearntsomethingofthestateofaffairs。Alreadytherevolutionwasanacceptedfact；alreadybusinesswasbeingresumedthroughoutthecity。AbroadthedownfalloftheCouncilhadbeenreceivedforthemostpartwithdelight。NowherewastheCouncilpopular，andthethousandcitiesofWesternAmerica，aftertwohundredyearsstilljealousofNewYork，London，andtheEast，hadrisenalmostunanimouslytwodaysbeforeatthenewsofGraham’simprisonment。Pariswasfightingwithinitself。Therestoftheworldhunginsuspense。
　　Whilehewasbreakinghisfast，thesoundofatelephonebelljettedfromacorner，andhischiefattendantcalledhisattentiontothevoiceofOstrogmakingpoliteenquiries。Grahaminterruptedhisrefreshmenttoreply。VeryshortlyLincolnarrived，andGrahamatonceexpressedastrongdesiretotalktopeopleandtobeshownmoreofthenewlifethatwasopeningbeforehim。Lincolninformedhimthatinthreehours’
　　timearepresentativegatheringofofficialsandtheirwiveswouldbeheldinthestateapartmentsofthewind—vaneChief。Graham’sdesiretotraversethewaysofthecitywas，however，atpresentimpossible，becauseoftheenormousexcitementofthepeople。
　　Itwas，however，quitepossibleforhimtotakeabird’seyeviewofthecityfromthecrow’snestofthewindvanekeeper。TothisaccordinglyGrahamwasconductedbyhisattendant。Lincoln，withagracefulcomplimenttotheattendant，apologisedfornotaccompanyingthem，onaccountofthepresentpressureofadministrativework。
　　Highereventhanthemostgiganticwind—wheelshungthiscrow’snest，aclearthousandfeetabovetheroofs，alittledisc—shapedspeckonaspearofmetallicfiligree，cablestayed。ToitssummitGrahamwasdrawninalittlewire—hungcradle。Halfwaydownthefrail—seemingstemwasalightgalleryaboutwhichhungaclusteroftubes——minutetheylookedfromabove——rotatingslowlyontheringofitsouterrail。
　　Thesewerethespecula，__enrapport__withthewind—vanekeeper’smirrors，inoneofwhichOstroghadshownhimthecomingofhisrule。HisJapaneseattendantascendedbeforehimandtheyspentnearlyanhouraskingandansweringquestions。
　　Itwasadayfullofthepromiseandqualityofspring。Thetouchofthewindwarmed。TheskywasanintenseblueandthevastexpanseofLondonshonedazzlingunderthemorningsun。Theairwasclearofsmokeandhaze，sweetastheairofamountainglen。
　　SavefortheirregularovalofruinsabouttheHouseoftheCouncilandtheblackflagofthesurrenderthatflutteredthere，themightycityseenfromaboveshowedfewsignsoftheswiftrevolutionthathad，tohisimagination，inonenightandoneday，changedthedestiniesoftheworld。Amultitudeofpeoplestillswarmedovertheseruins，andthehugeopenworkstagingsinthedistancefromwhichstartedintimesofpeacetheserviceofaeroplanestothevariousgreatcitiesofEuropeandAmerica，werealsoblackwiththevictors。AcrossanarrowwayofplankingraisedontrestlesthatcrossedtheruinsacrowdofworkmenwerebusyrestoringtheconnectionbetweenthecablesandwiresoftheCouncilHouseandtherestofthecity，preparatorytothetransferthitherofOstrog’sheadquartersfromtheWind—Vanebuildings。
　　Fortheresttheluminousexpansewasundisturbed。
　　Sovastwasitsserenityincomparisonwiththeareasofdisturbance，thatpresentlyGraham，lookingbeyondthem，couldalmostforgetthethousandsofmenIyingoutofsightintheartificialglarewithinthequasi—subterraneanlabyrinth，deadordyingoftheovernightwounds，forgettheimprovisedwardswiththehostsofsurgeons，nurses，andbearersfeverishlybusy，forget，indeed，’allthewonder，consternationandnoveltyundertheelectriclights。Downthereinthehiddenwaysoftheanthillheknewthattherevolutiontriumphed，thatblackeverywherecarriedtheday，blackfavours，blackbanners，blackfestoonsacrossthestreets。Andouthere，underthefreshsunlight，beyondthecraterofthefight，asifnothinghadhappenedtotheearth，theforestofWindVanesthathadgrownfromoneortwowhiletheCouncilhadruled，roaredpeacefullyupontheirincessantduty。
　　Faraway，spiked，jaggedandindentedbythewindvanes，theSurreyHillsroseblueandfaint；tothenorthandnearer，thesharpcontoursofHighgateandMuswellHillweresimilarlyjagged。Andalloverthecountryside，heknew，oneverycrestandhill，whereoncethehedgeshadinterlaced，andcottages，churches，inns，andfarmhouseshadnestledamongtheirtrees，windwheelssimilartothosehesawandbearinglikevastadvertisements，gauntanddistinctivesymbolsofthenewage，casttheirwhirlingshadowsandstoredincessantlytheenergythatflowedawayincessantlythroughallthearteriesofthecity。AndunderneaththesewanderedthecountlessflocksandherdsoftheBritishFoodTrustwiththeirlonelyguardsandkeepers。
　　Notafamiliaroutlineanywherebroketheclusterofgiganticshapesbelow。St。Paul’sheknewsurvived，andmanyoftheoldbuildingsinWestminster，embeddedoutofsight，archedoverandcoveredinamongthegiantgrowthsofthisgreatage。TheThemes，too，madenofallandgleamofsilvertobreakthewildernessofthecity；thethirstywatermainsdrankupeverydropofitswatersbeforetheyreachedthewalls。Itsbedandestuaryscouredandsunken，wasnowacanalofseawaterandaraceofgrimybargemenbroughttheheavymaterialsoftradefromthePooltherebybeneaththeveryfeetoftheworkers。FaintanddimintheeastwardbetweenearthandskyhungtheclusteringmastsofthecolossalshippinginthePool。Foralltheheavytraffic，forwhichtherewasnoneedofhaste，cameingiganticsailingshipsfromtheendsoftheearth，andtheheavygoodsforwhichtherewasurgencyinmechanicalshipsofasmallerswiftersort。
　　Andtothesouthoverthehills，camevastaqueductswithseawaterforthesewersandinthreeseparatedirections，ranpallidlines——theroads，stippledwithmovinggreyspecks。Onthefirstoccasionthatofferedhewasdeterminedtogooutandseetheseroads。
　　Thatwouldcomeaftertheflyingshiphewaspresentlytotry。Hisattendantofficerdescribedthemasapairofgentlycurvingsurfacesahundredyardswide，eachoneforthetrafficgoinginonedirection，andmadeofasubstancecalledEadhamite——anartificialsubstance，。
　　sofarashecouldgather，resemblingtoughenedglass。
　　Alongthisshotastrangetrafficofnarrowrubber—shodvehicles，greatsinglewheels，twoandfourwheeledvehicles，sweepingalongatvelocitiesoffromonetosixmilesaminute。Railroadshadvanished；afewembankmentsremainedasrust—crownedtrencheshereandthere。SomefewformedthecoresofEadhamiteways。
　　Amongthefirstthingstostrikehisattentionhadbeenthegreatfleetsofadvertisementballoonsandkitesthatrecededinirregularvistasnorthwardandsouthwardalongthelinesoftheaeroplanejourneys。
　　Noaeroplanesweretobeseen。Theirpassageshadceased，andonlyonelittle—seemingaeropilecircledhighinthebluedistanceabovetheSurreyHills，anunimpressivesoaringspeck。
　　AthingGrahamhadalreadylearnt，andwhichhefoundveryhardtoimagine，wasthatnearlyallthetownsinthecountry，andalmostallthevillages，haddisappeared。Hereandthereonly，heunderstood，somegigantichotel—likeedificestoodamidsquaremilesofsomesinglecultivationandpreservedthenameofatown——asBournemouth，Wareham，orSwanage。Yettheofficerhadspeedilyconvincedhimhowinevitablesuchachangehadbeen。Theoldorderhaddottedthecountrywithfarmhouses，andeverytwoorthreemileswastherulinglandlord’sestate，andtheplaceoftheinnandcobbler，thegrocer’sshopandchurch——thevillage。Everyeightmilesorsowasthecountrytown，wherelawyer，cornmerchant，wool—stapler，saddler，veterinarysurgeon，doctor，draper，millinerandsoforthlived。Everyeightmiles——simplybecausethateightmilemarketingjourney，fourthereandback，wasasmuchaswascomfortableforthefarmer。Butdirectlytherailwayscameintoplay，andafterthemthelightrailways，andalltheswiftnewmotorcarsthathadreplacedwaggonsandhorses，andsosoonasthehighroadsbegantobemadeofwood，andrubber，andEadhamite，andallsortsofelasticdurablesubstances——thenecessityofhavingsuchfrequentmarkettownsdisappeared。
　　Andthebigtownsgrew。Theydrewtheworkerwiththegravitationalforceofseeminglyendlesswork，theemployerwiththeirsuggestionsofaninfiniteoceanoflabour。
　　Andasthestandardofcomfortrose，asthecomplexityofthemechanismoflivingincreasedlifeinthecountryhadbecomemoreandmorecostly，ornarrowandimpossible。Thedisappearanceofvicarandsquire，theextinctionofthegeneralpractitionerbythecityspecialist，hadrobbedthevillageofitslasttouchofculture。Aftertelephone，kinematographandphonographhadreplacednewspaper，book，schoolmaster，andletter，toliveoutsidetherangeoftheelectriccableswastoliveanisolatedsavage。Inthecountrywereneithermeansofbeingclothednorfed（accordingtotherefinedconceptionsofthetime），noefficientdoctorsforanemergency，nocompanyandnopursuits。
　　Moreover，mechanicalappliancesinagriculturemadeoneengineertheequivalentofthirtylabourers。
　　So，invertingtheconditionofthecityclerkinthedayswhenLondonwasscarceinhabitablebecauseofthecoalyfoulnessofitsair，thelabourersnowcamehurryingbyroadorairtothecityanditslifeanddelightsatnighttoleaveitagaininthemorning。
　　Thecityhadswalloweduphumanity；manhadentereduponanewstageinhisdevelopment。Firsthadcomethenomad，thehunter，thenhadfollowedtheagriculturistoftheagriculturalstate，whosetownsandcitiesandportswerebuttheheadquartersandmarketsofthecountryside。Andnow，logicalconsequenceofanepochofinvention，wasthishugenewaggregationofmen。SaveLondon，therewereonlyfourothercitiesinBritain——Edinburgh，Portsmouth，ManchesterandShrewsbury。Suchthingsasthese，simplestatementsoffactthoughtheyweretocontemporarymen，strainedGraham’simaginationtopicture。Andwhenheglanced"overbeyondthere"atthestrangethingsthatexistedontheContinent，itfailedhimaltogether。
　　Hehadavisionofcitybeyondcity，citiesongreatplains，citiesbesidegreatrivers，vastcitiesalongtheseamargin，citiesgirdledbysnowymountains。OveragreatpartoftheearththeEnglishtonguewasspoken；takentogetherwithitsSpanishAmericanandHindooandNegroand"Pidgin"dialects，itwastheeverydaylanguageoftwo—thirdsofthepeopleoftheearth。OntheContinent，saveasremoteandcurioussurvivals，threeotherlanguagesaloneheldsway——
　　German，whichreachedtoAntiochandGenoaandjostledSpanish—EnglishatGdiz，aGallicisedRussianwhichmettheIndianEnglishinPersiaandKurdistanandthe"Pidgin"EnglishinPekin，andFrenchstillclearandbrilliant，thelanguageoflucidity，whichsharedtheMediterraneanwiththeIndianEnglishandGermanandreachedthroughanegrodialecttotheCongo。
　　Andeverywherenow，throughthecity—setearth，saveintheadministered"blackbelt"territoriesofthetropics，thesamecosmopolitansocialorganisatiorprevailed，andeverywherefromPoletoEquatorhispropertyandhisresponsibilitiesextended。Thewholeworldwascivilised；thewholeworlddweltincities；
　　thewholeworldwasproperty。OvertheBritishEmpireandthroughoutAmericahisownershipwasscarcelydisguised，CongressandParliamentwereusuallyregardedasantique，curiousgatherings。AndeveninthetwoEmpiresofRussiaandGermany，theinfluenceofhiswealthwasconceivablyofenormousweight。There，ofcourse，cameproblems——possibilities，but，upliftedashewas，evenRussiaandGermanyseemedsufficientlyremote。Andofthequalityoftheblackbeltadministration，andofwhatthatmightmeanforhimhethought，afterthefashionofhisformerdays，notatall。Thatitshouldhanglikeathreatoverthespaciousvisionbeforehimcouldnotenterhisnineteenthcenturymind。Buthismindturnedatoncefromthescenerytothethoughtofavanisheddread。
　　"Whatoftheyellowperil？"heaskedandAsanomadehimexplain。TheChinesespectrehadvanished。
　　ChinamanandEuropeanwereatpeace。ThetwentiethcenturyhaddiscoveredwithreluctantcertaintythattheaverageChinamanwasascivilised，moremoral，andfarmoreintelligentthantheaverageEuropeanserf，andhadrepeatedonagiganticscalethefraternisationofScotandEnglishmanthathappenedintheseventeenthcentury。AsAsanoputit；"Theythoughtitover。Theyfoundwewerewhitemenafterall。"
　　Grahamturnedagaintotheviewandhisthoughtstookanewdirection。
　　Outofthedimsouth—west，glitteringandstrange，voluptuous，andinsomewayterrible，shonethosePleasureCities，ofwhichthekinematograph—phonographandtheoldmaninthestreethadspoken。
　　StrangeplacesreminiscentofthelegendarySybaris，citiesofartandbeauty，mercenaryartandmercenarybeauty，sterilewonderfulcitiesofmotionandmusic，whitherrepairedallwhoprofitedbythefierce，inglorious，economicstrugglethatwentonintheglaringlabyrinthbelow。
　　Fierceheknewitwas。Howfiercehecouldjudgefromthefactthattheselatter—daypeoplereferredbacktotheEnglandofthenineteenthcenturyasthefigureofanidylliceasy—goinglife。Heturnedhiseyestothesceneimmediatelybeforehimagain，tryingtoconceivethebigfactoriesofthatintricatemaze。
　　Northwardheknewwerethepotters，makersnotonlyofearthenwareandchina，butofthekindredpastesandcompoundsasubtlermineralogicalchemistryhaddevised；therewerethemakersofstatuettesandwallornamentsandmuchintricatefurniture；
　　theretoowerethefactorieswherefeverishlycompetitiveauthorsdevisedtheirphonographdiscoursesandadvertisementsandarrangedthegroupingsanddevelopmentsfortheirperpetuallystartlingandnovelkinematographicdramaticworks。Thence，too，flashedtheworld—widemessages，theworld—widefalsehoodsofthenews—tellers，thechargersofthetelephonicmachinesthathadreplacedthenewspapersofthepast。
　　TothewestwardbeyondthesmashedCouncilHousewerethevoluminousofficesofmunicipalcontrolandgovernment；andtotheeastward，towardstheport，thetradingquarters，thehugepublicmarkets，thetheatres，housesofresort，bettingpalaces，milesofbilliardsaloons，baseballandfootballcircuses，wildbeastringsandtheinnumerabletemplesoftheChristianandquasi—Christiansects，theMahomedans，Buddhists，Gnostics，SpookWorshippers，theIncubusWorshippers，theFurnitureWorshippers，andsoforth；andtothesouthagainavastmanufactureoftextiles，pickles，winesandcondiments。Andfrompointtopointtorethecountlessmultitudesalongtheroaringmechanicalways。Agigantichive，ofwhichthewindsweretirelessservants，andtheceaselesswind—vanesanappropriatecrownandsymbol。
　　Hethoughtoftheunprecedentedpopulationthathadbeensuckedupbythisspongeofhallsandgalleries——thethirty—threemillionlivesthatwereplayingouteachitsownbriefineffectualdramabelowhim，andthecomplacencythatthebrightnessofthedayandthespaceandsplendouroftheview，andaboveallthesenseofhisownimportancehadbegotten，dwindledandperished。Lookingdownfromthisheightoverthecityitbecameatlastpossibletoconceivethisoverwhelmingmultitudeofthirty—threemillions，therealityoftheresponsibilityhewouldtakeuponhimself，thevastnessofthehumanMaelstronoverwhichhisslenderkingshiphung。
　　Hetriedtofiguretheindividuallife。Itastonishedhimtorealisehowlittlethecommonmanhadchangedinspiteofthevisiblechangeinhisconditions。Lifeandproperty，indeed，weresecurefromviolencealmostallovertheworld，zymoticdiseases，bacterialdiseasesofallsortshadpracticallyvanished，everyonehadasufficiencyoffoodandclothing，waswarmedinthecitywaysandshelteredfromtheweather——somuchthealmostmechanicalprogressofscienceandthephysicalorganisationofsocietyhadaccomplished。
　　Butthecrowd，hewasalreadybeginningtodiscover，wasacrowdstill，helplessinthehandsofdemagogueandorganiser，individuallycowardly，individuallyswayedbyappetite，collectivelyincalculable。Thememoryofcountlessfiguresinpalebluecanvascamebeforehismind。Millionsofsuchmenandwomenbelowhim，heknew，hadneverbeenoutofthecity，hadneverseenbeyondthelittleroundofunintelligentgrudgingparticipationintheworld’sbusiness，andunintelligentdissatisfiedsharinginitstawdrierpleasures。Hethoughtofthehopesofhisvanishedcontemporaries，andforamomentthedreamofLondoninMorris’squaintold__NewsfromNowhere__，andtheperfectlandofHudson’sbeautiful__CrystalAge_—appearedbeforehiminanatmosphereofinfiniteloss。
　　Hethoughtofhisownhopes。
　　Forinthelatterdaysofthatpassionatelifethatlaynowsofarbehindhim，theconceptionofafreeandequalmanhoodhadbecomeaveryrealthingtohim。
　　Hehadhoped，asindeedhisagehadhoped，rashlytakingitforgranted，thatthesacrificeofthemanytothefewwouldsomedaycease，thatadaywasnearwheneverychildbornofwomanshouldhaveafairandassuredchanceofhappiness。Andhere，aftertwohundredyears，thesamehope，stillunfulfilled，criedpassionatelythroughthecity。Aftertwohundredyears，heknew，greaterthanever，grownwiththecitytogiganticproportions，werepovertyandhelplesslabourandallthesorrowsofhistime。
　　Alreadyheknewsomethingofthehistoryoftheinterveningyears。Hehadheardnowofthemoraldecaythathadfollowedthecollapseofsupernaturalreligioninthemindsofignobleman，thedeclineofpublichonour，theascendencyofwealth。FormenwhohadlosttheirbeliefinGodhadstillkepttheirfaithinproperty，andwealthruledavenialworld。
　　HisJapaneseattendant，Asano，inexpoundingthepoliticalhistoryoftheinterveningtwocenturies，drewanaptimagefromaseedeatenbyinsectparasites。
　　Firstthereistheoriginalseed，ripeningvigorouslyenough。Andthencomessomeinsectandlaysaneggundertheskin，andbehold！inalittlewhiletheseedisahollowshapewithanactivegrubinsidethathaseatenoutitssubstance。Andthencomessomesecondaryparasite，someichneumonfly，andlaysaneggwithinthisgrub，andbehold！that，too，isahollowshape，andthenewlivingthingisinsideitspredecessor’sskinwhichitselfissnugwithintheseedcoat。
　　Andtheseedcoatstillkeepsitsshape，mostpeoplethinkitaseedstill，andforalloneknowsitmaystillthinkitselfaseed，vigorousandalive。"YourVictoriankingdom，"saidAsano，"waslikethat——king—
　　shipwiththehearteatenout。"Thelandowners——
　　thebaronsandgentry——beganagesagowithKingJohn；therewerelapses，buttheybeheadedKingCharles，andendedpracticallywithKingGeorgemerehuskofaking……therealpowerinthehandsoftheirparliament。ButtheParliament——theorganoftheland—holdingtenant—rulinggentry——didnotkeepitspowerlong。Thechangehadalreadycomeinthenineteenthcentury。Thefranchiseshadbeenbroadeneduntilitincludedmassesofignorantmen，"urbanmyriads，"whowentintheirfeaturelessthousandstovotetogether。Andthenaturalconsequenceofaswarmingconstituencyistheruleofthepartyorganisation。PowerwaspassingevenintheVictoriantimetothepartymachinery，secret，complex，andcorrupt。Veryspeedilypowerwasinthehandsofgreatmenofbusinesswhofinancedthemachines。AtimecamewhentherealpowerandinterestoftheEmpirerestedvisiblybetweenthetwopartycouncils，rulingbynewspapersandelectoralorganisations——twosmallgroupsofrichandablemen，workingatfirstinopposition，thenpresentlytogether。
　　Therewasareactionofagenteelineffectualsort。
　　Therewerenumberlessbooksinexistence，Asanosaid，toprovethat——thepublicationofsomeofthemwasasearlyasGraham’ssleep——awholeliteratureofreactioninfact。Thepartyofthereactionseemstohavelockeditselfintoitsstudyandrebelledwithunflinchingdetermination——onpaper。Theurgentnecessityofeithercapturingordeprivingthepartycouncilsofpowerisacommonsuggestionunderlyingallthethoughtfulworkoftheearlytwentiethcentury，bothinAmericaandEngland。InmostofthesethingsAmericawasalittleearlierthanEngland，thoughbothcountriesdrovethesameway。
　　Thatcounter—revolutionnevercame。Itcouldneverorganiseandkeeppure。Therewasnotenoughoftheoldsentimentality，theoldfaithinrighteousness，leftamongmen。Anyorganisationthatbecamebigenoughtoinfluencethepollsbecamecomplexenoughtobeundermined，brokenup，orboughtoutrightbycapablerichmen。SocialisticandPopular，ReactionaryandPurityPartieswereallatlastmereStockExchangecounters，sellingtheirprinciplestopayfortheirelectioneering。Andthegreatconcernoftherichwasnaturallytokeeppropertyintact，theboardclearforthegameoftrade。Justasthefeudalconcernhadbeentokeeptheboardclearforhuntingandwar。Thewholeworldwasexploited，abattlefieldofbusinesses；andfinancialconvulsions，thescourgeofcurrencymanipulation，tariffwars，mademorehumanmiseryduringthetwentiethcentury——
　　becausethewretchednesswasdrearylifeinsteadofspeedydeath——thanhadwar，pestilenceandfamine，inthedarkesthoursofearlierhistory。
　　Hisownpartinthedevelopmentofthistimehenowknewclearlyenough。Throughthesuccessivephasesinthedevelopmentofthismechanicalcivilisation，aidingandpresentlydirectingitsdevelopment，therehadgrownanewpower，theCouncil，theboardofhistrustees。AtfirstithadbeenamerechanceunionofthemillionsofIsbisterandWarming，amerepropertyholdingcompany，thecreationoftwochildlesstestators’whims，butthecollectivetalentofitsfirstconstitutionhadspeedilyguidedittoavastinfluence，untilbytitledeed，loanandshare，underahundreddisguisesandpseudonymsithadramifiedthroughthefabricoftheAmericanandEnglishStates。
　　Wieldinganenormousinfluenceandpatronage，theCouncilhadearlyassumedapoliticalaspect；andinitsdevelopmentithadcontinuallyuseditswealthtotipthebeamofpoliticaldecisionsanditspoliticaladvantagestograspyetmoreandmorewealth。Atlastthepartyorganisationsoftwohemisphereswereinitshands；itbecameaninnercouncilofpoliticalcontrol。ItslaststrugglewaswiththetacitallianceofthegreatJewishfamilies。Butthesefamilieswerelinkedonlybyafeeblesentiment，atanytimeinheritancemightflingahugefragmentoftheirresourcestoaminor，awomanorafool，marriagesandlegaciesalienatedhundredsofthousandsatoneblow。TheCouncilhadnosuchbreachinitscontinuity。
　　Steadily，steadfastlyitgrew。
　　TheoriginalCouncilwasnotsimplytwelvemenofexceptionalability；theyfused，itwasacouncilofgenius。Itstruckboldlyforriches，forpoliticalinfluence，andthetwosubservedeachother。Withamazingforesightitspentgreatsumsofmoneyontheartofflying，holdingthatinventionbackagainstanhourforeseen。Itusedthepatentlaws，andathousandhalf—legalexpedients，tohamperallinvestigatorswhorefusedtoworkwithit。Intheolddaysitnevermissedacapableman。Itpaidhisprice。Itspolicyinthosedayswasvigorous——unerring，andagainstitasitgrewsteadilyandincessantlywasonlythechaoticselfishruleofthecasuallyrich。InahundredyearsGrahamhadbecomealmostexclusiveownerofAfrica，ofSouthAmerica，ofFrance，ofLondon，ofEnglandandallitsinfluence——forallpracticalpurposes，thatis——apowerinNorthAmerica——thenthedominantpowerinAmerica。TheCouncilboughtandorganisedChina，drilledAsia，crippledtheOldWorldempires，underminedthemfinancially，foughtanddefeatedthem。