'Author of "The Island of Darkness" again hits out.'
'"Britain has thrived on European medievalism," says Austin Selwyn.'
'More hot air from the super-Selwyn.'
'Selwyn is the spokesman for enlightened America.'
'Masterful thinker, masterful writer, is the author of "The Island of
Darkness."'
'What does Selwyn receive from Germany?'
'The arch-hypocrite of American letters.'
With a shrug of his shoulders he threw them to one side. 'A pack of hounds,' he muttered, 'howling at the moon!'
He leaned back in his chair and pondered over the written word that could leap such spaces and carry his message into countries which he had never seen. It was with a deeper emotion than just the author's pleasure at recognition that he visualised his ancestor leaving Holland for the New World, and the strange trend of events which was resulting in the emigrant's descendant sending back to the Netherlands his call to higher and world citizenship.
Still ruminating over the power that had become his, he noticed a letter, on the envelope of which was written 'On Active Service,' and breaking the seal, found that it was from Douglas Watson, written at a British hospital in France. As Selwyn read it the impassiveness of his face gave way to a look of trouble. For the first time in many months there was the quick play of expression about his lips and his eyes that had always differentiated him from those about him.