I recall the distant firing of that red morning. My eardrums had not healed from recent months more or less in touch with the artillery. I remember brushing the edge of the lines, as I crossed from Sedgwick's headquarters back to the hut I shared with Varsieff and a servant or two. The peasants were listening queerly and quietly to the far firing.
I passed through the sprawl of pup-shelters, and certain ideas occurred to me: first, that the arrangement of camp was abominable, a pitiful lack of technique shown in this bit of military handling; second, the slow cold conviction that we, as revolutionists, must have all the virtues of the old-line troops to begin with, and to build our real greatness on top of that; finally I drew from the queer attitudes of the men toward me, an intuitional flash that to them the distant firing meant a signal that they were about to fight their way home.
Varsieff was sitting dejected upon a camp-chest when I rejoined him.
"Sedgwick is ready when you are," I said. "He suggests that the men be not kept waiting too long."
Varsieff looked up. His face was livid. His soul had no chance that morning. I thought of the old story of Arjuna standing between the battle-lines, reluctant to join action against his own kindred.
"It's the same here that it was in Petrograd," I announced finally. "The dream holds——"
He shook his head.... "They are just boys—white-haired boys. They want to go home——"
That instant I seemed to see the world laughing at this great man; I saw the end of Varsieff politically.... Superb genius broken down by an intrinsic weakness—as a man who, trying to lead the world, falls for the lure of an actress maid.... I saw all his work of early years—straight, clean, unerring, selfless labour of a man to a Cause—the inspired labour of the past two years when he gave the whole fruit of his quickened heart to the new Russia—the magic of a man loved by a woman great enough to be his divine sculptor and priestess.... It was the thought of Paula Mantone that helped me that instant. Sedgwick was on the path outside. I hurried out and whispered: