The Secret Power

"I will adventure in search of the legendary city myself, alone!" he said.

Morgana laughed, her clear little cold laugh of disdain.

"Do so, my friend! Why not?" she said--"You are a daring airman on many forms of airships--I knew that,--before I entrusted you with the scheme of mine. Discover the legendary 'Brazen City' if you can!--I promise not to be jealous!--and return to the world of curiosity mongers--(also, if you CAN!) with a full report of its inhabitants and their manners and customs. And so--you will become famous! But you must not fall asleep on the way!"

He paled with anger and annoyance,--she still smiled.

"Do not be cross, AMICO!" she said, sweetly. "Think where we are!--in the wide spaces of heaven, pilgrims with the stars! This is no place for personal feeling of either disappointment or irritation. You asked me a while ago if I was tired--I thought I was Hot, but I am--very tired!--I am going to rest. And I trust you both to take care of me and the 'White Eagle'!"

"We are to make straight for Sicily?" he asked.

"Yes--straight for Sicily."

She retired into her sleeping-cabin and disappeared. The Marchese Rivardi looked at Gaspard questioningly.

"We must obey her, I suppose?"

"We could not think of disobeying!" returned Gaspard.

"She is a strange woman!" and as he spoke Rivardi gripped his steering-gear with a kind of vindictive force--"It seems absurd that we,--two men of fair intelligence and scientific attainment,--should be ruled by her whim,--her fancies--for after all she is made up of fancies--"

Gaspard shook his finger warningly.

"This air-ship is not a 'whim' or a 'fancy'"--he said, impressively--"It is the most wonderful thing of its kind ever invented! If it is given to the world it will revolutionise the whole system of aerial navigation. Here we are, flying at top speed in perfect ease and safety with no engine--nothing to catch fire--nothing to break or bust--and the whole mechanism mysteriously makes its own motive power as it goes. Radio-activity it may be--but its condensation and use for such a purpose is the secret invention of a woman--and surely we must admit her genius! As for our obedience--ECCELLENZA, we are both royally paid to obey!"

Rivardi flushed red.

"I know!" he said, curtly--"I never forget it. But money is not everything."

Gaspard's mobile French face lit up with a mirthful smile.