第16章

Grahamwalkedtotheparapetandstoodleaningover，lookingdownatthedancers。Savefortwoorthreeremotewhisperingcouples，whohadstolenapart，heandhisguidehadthegallerytothemselves。

Awarmbreathofscentandvitalitycameuptohim。

Bothmenandwomenbelowwerelightlyclad，bare—

armed，open—necked，astheuniversalwarmthofthecitypermitted。Thehairofthemenwasoftenamassofeffeminatecurls，theirchinswerealwaysshaven，andmanyofthemhadflushedorcolouredcheeks。

Manyofthewomenwereverypretty，andallweredressedwithelaboratecoquetry。Astheysweptbybeneath，hesawecstaticfaceswitheyeshalfclosedinpleasure。

"Whatsortofpeoplearethese？"heaskedabruptly。

"Workers——prosperousworkers。Whatyouwouldhavecalledthemiddleclass。Independenttradesmenwithlittleseparatebusinesseshavevanishedlongago，buttherearestoreservers，managers，engineersofahundredsorts。Tonightisaholidayofcourse，andeverydancingplaceinthecitywillbecrowded，andeveryplaceofworship。"

"But——thewomen？"

"Thesame。There’sathousandformsofworkforwomennow。Butyouhadthebeginningoftheindependentworking—womaninyourdays。Mostwomenareindependentnow。Mostofthesearemarriedmoreorless——thereareanumberofmethodsofcontract——andthatgivesthemmoremoney，andenablesthemtoenjoythemselves。"

"Isee，"saidGrahamlookingattheflushedfaces，theflashandswirlofmovement，andstillthinkingofthatnightmareofpinkhelplesslimbs。"Andtheseare——mothers。"

"Mostofthem。"

"ThemoreIseeofthesethingsthemorecomplexIfindyourproblems。This，forinstance，isasurprise。

ThatnewsfromPariswasasurprise。"

Inalittlewhilehespokeagain：

"Thesearemothers。Presently，Isuppose，Ishallgetintothemodernwayofseeingthings。Ihaveoldhabitsofmindclingingaboutme——habitsbased，I

suppose，onneedsthatareoveranddonewith。Ofcourse，inourtime，awomanwassupposednotonlytobearchildren，buttocherishthem，todevoteherselftothem，toeducatethem——alltheessentialsofmoralandmentaleducationachildoweditsmother。

Orwentwithout。Quiteanumber，Iadmit，wentwithout。Nowadays，clearly，thereisnomoreneedforsuchcarethaniftheywerebutterflies。Iseethat！

Onlytherewasanideal——thatfigureofagrave，patientwoman，silentlyandserenelymistressofahome，motherandmakerofmen——toloveherwasasortofworship——"

Hestoppedandrepeated，"Asortofworship。"

"Idealschange，"saidthelittleman，"asneedschange。"

GrahamawokefromaninstantreverieandAsanorepeatedhiswords。Graham’smindreturnedtothethingathand。

"OfcourseIseetheperfectreasonablenessofthisRestraint，soberness，thematuredthought，theunselfishaact，theyarenecessitiesofthebarbarousstate，thelifeofdangers。Dournessisman’stributetounconquerednature。Butmanhasconquerednaturenowforallpracticalpurposes——hispoliticalaffairsaremanagedbyBosseswithablackpolice——andlifeisjoyous。"

Helookedatthedancersagain。"Joyous，"hesaid。

"Therearewearymoments，"saidthelittleofficer，reflectively。

"Theyalllookyoung。DownthereIshouldbevisiblytheoldestman。AndinmyowntimeIshouldhavepassedasmiddle—aged。"

"Theyareyoung。Therearefewoldpeopleinthisclassintheworkcities。"

"Howisthat？"

"Oldpeople’slivesarenotsopleasantastheyusedtobe，unlesstheyarerichtohireloversandhelpers。

AndwehaveaninstitutioncalledEuthanasy。"

"Ah！thatEuthanasy！"saidGraham。"Theeasydeath？"

"Theeasydeath。Itisthelastpleasure。TheEuthanasyCompanydoesitwell。Peoplewillpaythesum——itisacostlything——longbeforehand，goofftosomepleasurecityandreturnimpoverishedandweary，veryweary。"

"Thereisalotleftformetounderstand，"saidGrahamafterapause。"YetIseethelogicofitall。

Ourarrayofangryvirtuesandsourrestraintswastheconsequenceofdangerandinsecurity。TheStoic，thePuritan，eveninmytime，werevanishingtypes。IntheolddaysmanwasarmedagainstPain，nowheiseagerforPleasure。Thereliesthedifference。

Civilisationhasdrivenpainanddangersofaroff——forwell—to—dopeople。Andonlywell—to—dopeoplematternow。Ihavebeenasleeptwohundredyears。"

Foraminutetheyleantonthebalustrading，followingtheintricateevolutionofthedance。Indeedthescenewasverybeautiful。

"BeforeGod，"saidGraham，suddenly，"Iwouldratherbeawoundedsentinelfreezinginthesnowthanoneofthesepaintedfools！"

"Inthesnow，"saidAsano，"onemightthinkdiferently。"

"Iamuncivilised，"saidGraham，notheedinghim。

"Thatisthetrouble。Iamprimitive——Palaeolithic。

Theirfountainofrageandfearandangerissealedandclosed，thehabitsofalifetimemakethemcheerfulandeasyanddelightful。Youmustbearwithmynineteenthcenturyshocksanddisgusts。Thesepeople，yousay，areskilledworkersandsoforth。Andwhilethesedance，menarefighting——menaredyinginParistokeeptheworld——thattheymaydance。"

Asanosmiledfaintly。"Forthatmatter，menaredyinginLondon，"hesaid。

Therewasamoment’ssilence。

"Wheredothesesleep？"askedGraham。

"Aboveandbelow——anintricatewarren。"

"Andwheredotheywork？Thisis——thedomesticlife。"

"Youwillseelittleworkto—night。Halftheworkersareoutorunderarms。Halfthesepeoplearekeepingholiday。Butwewillgototheworkplacesifyouwishit。"

ForatimeGrahamwatchedthedancers，thensuddenlyturnedaway。"Iwanttoseetheworkers。

Ihaveseenenoughofthese，"hesaid。

Asanoledthewayalongthegalleryacrossthedancinghall。Presentlytheycametoatransversepassagethatbroughtabreathoffresher，colderair。

Asanoglancedatthispassageastheywentpast，stopped，wentbacktoit，andturnedtoGrahamwithasmile。"Here，Sire，"hesaid，"issomething——willbefamiliartoyouatleast——andyet——。ButIwillnottellyou。Come！"

Heledthewayalongaclosedpassagethatpresentlybecamecold。Thereverberationoftheirfeettoldthatthispassagewasabridge。Theycameintoacirculargallerythatwasglazedinfromtheouterweather，andsoreachedacircularchamberwhichseemedfamiliar，thoughGrahamcouldnotrecalldistinctlywhenhehadentereditbefore。Inthiswasaladder——thefirstladderhehadseensincehisawakening——upwhichtheywent，andcameintoahigh，dark，coldplaceinwhichwasanotheralmostverticalladder。Thistheyascended，Grahamstillperplexed。

Butatthetopheunderstood，andrecognizedthemetallicbarstowhichheclung。HewasinthecageundertheballofSt。Paul’s。Thedomerosebutalittlewayabovethegeneralcontourofthecity，intothestilltwilight，andslopedaway，shininggreasilyunderafewdistantlights，intoacircumambientditchofdarkness。

Outbetweenthebarshelookeduponthewind—clearnorthernskyandsawthestarryconstellationsallunchanged。Capellahunginthewest，Vegawasrising，andthesevenglitteringpointsoftheGreatBearsweptoverheadintheirstatelycircleaboutthePole。

Hesawthesestarsinacleargapofsky。Totheeastandsouththegreatcircularshapesofcomplainingwind—wheelsblottedouttheheavens，sothattheglareabouttheCouncilHousewashidden。Tothesouth—westhungOrion，showinglikeapallidghostthroughatraceryofiron—workandinterlacingshapesaboveadazzlingcoruscationoflights。Abellowingandsirenscreamingthatcamefromtheflyingstageswarnedtheworldthatoneoftheaeroplaneswasreadytostart。Heremainedforaspacegazingtowardstheglaringstage。Thenhiseyeswentbacktothenorthwardconstellations。

Foralongtimehewassilent。"This，"hesaidatlast，smilingintheshadow，"seemsthestrangestthingofall。TostandinthedomeofSaintPaul’sandlookoncemoreuponthesefamiliar，silentstars！"

ThenceGrahamwastakenbyAsanoalongdeviouswaystothegreatgamblingandbusinessquarterswherethebulkofthefortunesinthecitywerelostandmade。Itimpressedhimasawell—nighinterminableseriesofveryhighhalls，surroundedbytiersupontiersofgalleriesintowhichopenedthousandsofoffices，andtraversedbyacomplicatedmultitudeofbridges，footways，aerialmotorrails，andtrapezeandcableleaps。Andheremorethananywherethenoteofvehementvitality，ofuncontrollable，hastyactivity。

rosehigh。Everywherewasviolentadvertisement，untilhisbrainswamatthetumultoflightandcolour。

AndBabbleMachinesofapeculiarlyrancidtonewereabundantandfilledtheairwithstrenuoussquealingandanidioticslang。"Skinyoureyesandslide，"

"Gewhoop，Bonanza，""Golliperscomeandhark！"

Theplaceseemedtohimtobedensewithpeopleeitherprofoundlyagitatedorswellingwithobscurecunning，yethelearntthattheplacewascomparativelyempty，thatthegreatpoliticalconvulsionofthelastfewdayshadreducedtransactionstoanunprecedentedminimum。Inonehugeplacewerelongavenuesofroulettetables，eachwithanexcited，undignifiedcrowdaboutit；inanotherayelpingBabelofwhite—facedwomenandred—

neckedleathery—lungedmenboughtandsoldthesharesofanabsolutelyfictitiousbusinessundertakingwhich，everyfiveminutes，paidadividendoftenpercentandcancelledacertainproportionofitssharesbymeansofalotterywheel。

Thesebusinessactivitieswereprosecutedwithanenergythatreadilypassedintoviolence，andGrahamapproachingadensecrowdfoundatitscentreacoupleofprominentmerchantsinviolentcontroversywithteethandnailsonsomedelicatepointofbusinessetiquette。Somethingstillremainedinlifetobefoughtfor。Furtherhehadashockatavehementannouncementinphoneticlettersofscarletflame，eachtwicetheheightofaman，that"WEASSURETHE

PROPRAIET’R。WEASSURETHEPROPRAIET’R。"

"Who’stheproprietor？"heasked。

"You。"

"Butwhatdotheyassureme？"heasked。"Whatdotheyassureme？"

"Didn’tyouhaveassurance？"

Grahamthought。"Insurance？"

"Yes——Insurance。Irememberthatwastheolderword。Theyareinsuringyourlife。Dozandsofpeoplearetakingoutpolicies，myriadsoflionsarebeingputonyou。Andfurtheronotherpeoplearebuyingannuities。Theydothatoneverybodywhoisatallprominent。Lookthere！"

Acrowdofpeoplesurgedandroared，andGrahamsawavastblackscreensuddenlyilluminatedinstilllargerlettersofburningpurple。"AnuetesonthePropraiet’r———x5pr。G。"Thepeoplebegantobooandshoutatthis，anumberofhardbreathing，wildeyedmencamerunningpast，clawingwithhookedfingersattheair。Therewasafuriouscrushaboutalittledoorway。

Asanodidabriefcalculation。"Seventeenpercentperannumistheirannuityonyou。Theywouldnotpaysomuchpercentiftheycouldseeyounow，Sire。

Buttheydonotknow。Yourownannuitiesusedtobeaverysafeinvestment，butnowyouaresheergambling，ofcourse。Thisisprobablyadesperatebid。Idoubtifpeoplewillgettheirmoney。"

Thecrowdofwould—beannuitantsgrewsothickaboutthemthatforsometimetheycouldmoveneitherforwardnobackward。Grahamnoticedwhatappearedtohimtobeahighproportionofwomenamongthespeculators，andwasremindedagainoftheeconomicalindependenceoftheirsex。Theyseemedremarkablywellabletotakecareofthemselvesinthecrowd，usingtheirelbowswithparticularskill，ashelearnttohiscost。Onecurly—headedpersoncaughtinthepressureforaspace，lookedsteadfastlyathimseveraltimes，almostasifsherecognizedhim，andthen，edgingdeliberatelytowardshim，touchedhishandwithherarminascarcelyaccidentalmanner，andmadeitplainbyalookasancientasChaldeathathehadfoundfavourinhereyes。Andthenalank，grey—

beardedman，perspiringcopiouslyinanoblepassionofself—help，blindtoallearthlythingssavethatglaring，bait，thrustbetweentheminacataclysmalrushtowardsthatalluring"x5pr。G。"

"Iwanttogetoutofthis，"saidGrahamtoAsano。

"ThisisnotwhatIcametosee。Showmetheworkers。Iwanttoseethepeopleinblue。Theseparasiticlunatics——"

Hefoundhimselfwedgedinastrugglingmasscpeople，andthishopefulsentencewentunfinished。

CHAPTERXXI

THEUNDERSIDE

FromtheBusinessQuartertheypresentlypassedbytherunningwaysintoaremotequarterofthecity，wherethebulkofthemanufactureswasdone。OntheirwaytheplatformscrossedtheThamestwice，andpassedinabroadviaductacrossoneofthegreatroadsthatenteredthecityfromtheNorth。Inbothcaseshisimpressionwasswiftandinbothveryvivid。Theriverwasabroadwrinkledglitterofblackseawater，overarchedbybuildings，andvanishingeitherwayintoablacknessstarredwithrecedinglights。Astringofblackbargespassedseaward，mannedbyblue—cladmen。Theroadwasalongandverybroadandhightunnel，alongwhichbig—wheeledmachinesdrovenoiselesslyandswiftly。Here，too，thedistinctiveblueoftheLabourCompanywasinabundance。Thesmoothnessofthedoubletracks，thelargenessandthelightnessofthebigpneumaticwheelsinproportiontothevehicularbody，struckGrahammostvividly。Onelankandveryhighcarriagewithlongitudinalmetallicrodshungwiththedrippingcarcassesofmanyhundredsheeparrestedhisattentionunduly。Abruptlytheedgeofthearchwaycutandblottedoutthepicture。

Presentlytheyleftthewayanddescendedbyaliftandtraversedapassagethatslopeddownward，andsocametoadescendingliftagain。Theappearanceofthingschanged。Eventhepretenceofarchitecturalornamentdisappeared，thelightsdiminishedinnumberandsize，thearchitecturebecamemoreandmoremassiveinproportiontothespacesasthefactoryquarterswerereached。Andinthedustybiscuit—

makingplaceofthepotters，amongthefelsparmillsinthefurnaceroomsofthemetalworkers，amongtheincandescentlakesofcrudeEadhamite，thebluecanvasclothingwasonman，womanandchild。

Manyofthesegreatanddustygalleriesweresilentavenuesofmachinery，endlessrakedoutashenfurnacestestifiedtotherevolutionarydislocation，butwherevertherewasworkitwasbeingdonebyslow—

movingworkersinbluecanvas。Theonlypeoplenotinbluecanvasweretheoverlookersofthework—placesandtheorange—cladLabourPolice。Andfreshfromtheflushedfacesofthedancinghalls，thevoluntaryvigoursofthebusinessquarter，Grahamcouldnotethepinchedfaces，thefeeblemuscles，andwearyeyesofmanyofthelatter—dayworkers。Suchashesawatworkwerenoticeablyinferiorinphysiquetothefewgailydressedmanagersandforewomenwhoweredirectingtheirlabours。TheburlylabourersoftheVictoriantimeshadfollowedthedrayhorseandallsuchlivingforceproducers，toextinction；theplaceofhiscostlymuscleswastakenbysomedexterousmachine。Thelatter—daylabourer，maleaswellasfemale，wasessentiallyamachine—minderandfeeder，aservantandattendant，oranartistunderdirection。

Thewomen，incomparisonwiththoseGrahamremembered，wereasaclassdistinctlyplainandflat—

chested。TwohundredyearsofemancipationfromthemoralrestraintsofPuritanicalreligion，twohundredyearsofcitylife，haddonetheirworkineliminatingthestrainoffemininebeautyandvigourfromthebluecanvasmyriads。Tobebrilliantphysicallyormentally，tobeinanywayattractiveorexceptional，hadbeenandwasstillacertainwayofemancipationtothedrudge，alineofescapetothePleasureCityanditssplendoursanddelights，andatlasttotheEuthanasyandpeace。Tobesteadfastagainstsuchinducementswasscarcelytobeexpectedofmeanlynourishedsouls。IntheyoungcitiesofGraham’sformerlife，thenewlyaggregatedlabouringmasshadbeenadiversemultitude，stillstirredbythetraditionofpersonalhonourandahighmorality；nowitwasdifferentiatingintoadistinctclass，withamoralandphysicaldifferenceofitsown——evenwithadialectofitsown。

Theypenetrateddownward，everdownward，towardstheworkingplaces。Presentlytheypassedunderneathoneofthestreetsofthemovingways，andsawitsplatformsrunningontheirrailsfaroverhead，andchinksofwhitelightsbetweenthetransverseslits。Thefactoriesthatwerenotworkingweresparselylighted；

toGrahamtheyandtheirshroudedaislesofgiantmachinesseemedplungedingloom，andevenwhereworkwasgoingontheilluminationwasfarlessbrilliantthanuponthepublicways。

BeyondtheblazinglakesofEadhamitehecametothewarrenofthejewellers，and，withsomedifficultyandbyusinghissignature，obtainedadmissiontothesegalleries。Theywerehighanddark，andrathercold。Inthefirstafewmenweremakingornamentsofgoldfiligree，eachmanatalittlebenchbyhimself，andwithalittleshadedlight。Thelongvistaoflightpatches，withthenimblefingersbrightlylitandmovingamongthegleamingyellowcoils，andtheintentfacelikethefaceofaghost，ineachshadowhadtheoddesteffect。

Theworkwasbeautifullyexecuted，butwithoutanystrengthofmodellingordrawing，forthemostpartintricategrotesquesortheringingofthechangesonageometricalmotif。Theseworkersworeapeculiarwhiteuniformwithoutpocketsorsleeves。Theyassumedthisoncomingtowork，butatnighttheywerestrippedandexaminedbeforetheyleftthepremisesoftheCompany。Inspiteofeveryprecaution，theLabourpolicemantoldtheminadepressedtone，theCompanywasnotinfrequentlyrobbed。

Beyondwasagalleryofwomenbusiedincuttingandsettingslabsofartificialruby，andnexttheseweremenandwomenbusiedtogetherupontheslabsofcoppernetthatformedthebasisofcloisonnetiles。

Manyoftheseworkershadlipsandnostrilsalividwhite，duetoadiseasecausedbyapeculiarpurpleenamelthatchancedtobemuchinfashion。AsanoapologisedtoGrahamfortheoffenceoftheirfaces，butexcusedhimselfonthescoreoftheconvenienceofthisroute。"ThisiswhatIwantedtosee，"saidGraham；

"thisiswhatIwantedtosee，"tryingtoavoidastartataparticularlystrikingdisfigurementthatsuddenlystaredhimintheface。

"Shemighthavedonebetterwithherselfthanthat，"saidAsano。

Grahammadesomeindignantcomments。

"But，Sire，wesimplycouldnotstandthatstuffwithoutthepurple，"saidAsano。"Inyourdayspeoplecouldstandsuchcrudities，theywerenearerthebarbaricbytwohundredyears。"

Theycontinuedalongoneofthelowergalleriesofthiscloisonnefactory，andcametoalittlebridgethatspannedavault。Lookingovertheparapet，Grahamsawthatbeneathwasawharfunderyetmoretremendousarchingsthananyhehadseen。Threebarges，smotheredinflourydust，werebeingunloadedoftheircargoesofpowderedfelsparbyamultitudeofcoughingmen，eachguidingalittletruck；thedustfilledtheplacewithachokingmist，andturnedtheelectricglareyellow。Thevagueshadowsoftheseworkersgesticulatedabouttheirfeet，andrushedtoandfroagainstalongstretchofwhite—washedwall。

Everynowandthenonewouldstoptocough。

Ashadowy，hugemassofmasonryrisingoutoftheinkywater，broughttoGraham’smindthethoughtofthemultitudeofwaysandgalleriesandlifts，thatroseflooraboveflooroverheadbetweenhimandthesky。

ThemenworkedinsilenceunderthesupervisionoftwooftheLabourPolice；theirfeetmadeahollowthunderontheplanksalongwhichtheywenttoandfro。Andashelookedatthisscene，somehiddenvoiceinthedarknessbegantosing。

"Stopthat！"shoutedoneofthepolicemen，buttheorderwasdisobeyed，andfirstoneandthenallthewhite—stainedmenwhowereworkingtherehadtakenupthebeatingrefrain，singingitdefiantly，theSongoftheRevolt。Thefeetupontheplanksthunderednowtotherhythmofthesong，tramp，tramp，tramp。

Thepolicemanwhohadshoutedglancedathisfellow，andGrahamsawhimshrughisshoulders。Hemadenofurtherefforttostopthesinging。

Andsotheywentthroughthesefactoriesandplacesoftoil，seeingmanypainfulandgrimthings。Butwhyshouldthegentlereaderbedepressed？Surelytoarefinednatureourpresentworldisdistressingenoughwithoutbotheringourselvesaboutthesemiseriestocome。Weshallnotsufferanyhow。Ourchildrenmay，butwhatisthattous？ThatwalkleftonGraham’smindamazeofmemories，fluctuatingpicturesofswathedhalls，andcrowdedvaultsseenthroughcloudsofdust，ofintricatemachines，theracingthreadsoflooms，theheavybeatofstampingmachinery，theroarandrattleofbeltandarmature，ofill—litsubterraneanaislesofsleepingplaces，illimitablevistasofpin—pointlights。Andherethesmelloftanning，andherethereekofabreweryandhere，unprecedentedreeks。AndeverywherewerepillarsandcrossarchingsofsuchamassivenessasGrahamhadneverbeforeseen，thickTitansofgreasy，shiningbrickworkcrushedbeneaththevastweightofthatcomplexcityworld，evenastheseanemicmillionswerecrushedbyitscomplexity。Andeverywherewerepalefeatures，leanlimbs，disfigurementanddegradation。

Onceandagain，andagainathirdtime，Grahamheardthesongoftherevoltduringhislong，unpleasantresearchintheseplaces，andoncehesawaconfusedstruggledownapassage，andlearntthatanumberoftheseserfshadseizedtheirbreadbeforetheirworkwasdone。Grahamwasascendingtowardsthewaysagainwhenhesawanumberofblue—cladchildrenrunningdownatransversepassage，andpresentlyperceivedthereasonoftheirpanicinacompanyoftheLabourPolicearmedwithclubs，trottingtowardssomeunknowndisturbance。Andthencamearemotedisorder。Butforthemostpartthisremnantthatworked，workedhopelessly。Allthespiritthatwasleftinfallenhumanitywasaboveinthestreetsthatnight，callingfortheMaster，andvaliantlyandnoisilykeepingitsarms。

Theyemergedfromthesewanderingsandstoodblinkinginthebrightlightofthemiddlepassageoftheplatformsagain。TheybecameawareoftheremotehootingandyelpingofthemachinesofoneoftheGeneralIntelligenceOffices，andsuddenlycamemenrunning，andalongtheplatformsandaboutthewayseverywherewasashoutingandcrying。Thenawomanwithafaceofmutewhiteterror，andanotherwhogaspedandshriekedassheran。

"Whathashappenednow？"saidGraham，puzzled，forhecouldnotunderstandtheirthickspeech。ThenhehearditinEnglishandperceivedthatthethingthateveryonewasshouting，thatmenyelledtooneanother，thatwomentookupscreaming，thatwaspassinglikethefirstbreezeofathunderstorm，chillandsuddenthroughthecity，wasthis："OstroghasorderedtheBlackPolicetoLondon。TheBlackPolicearecomingfromSouthAfrica……TheBlackPolice。TheBlackPolice。"

Asano’sfacewaswhiteandastonished；hehesitated，lookedatGraham’sface，andtoldhimthethinghealreadyknew。"Buthowcantheyknow？"askedAsano。

Grahamheardsomeoneshouting。"Stopallwork。

Stopallwork，"andaswarthyhunchback，ridiculouslygayingreenandgold，cameleapingdowntheplatformstowardhim，bawlingagainandagainingoodEnglish，"ThisisOstrog’sdoing，Ostrog，theKnave！

TheMasterisbetrayed。"Hisvoicewashoarseandathinfoamdroppedfromhisuglyshoutingmouth。HeyelledanunspeakablehorrorthattheBlackPolicehaddoneinParis，andsopassedshrieking，"OstrogtheKnave！"

ForamomentGrahamstoodstill，forithadcomeuponhimagainthatthesethingswereadream。Helookedupatthegreatcliffofbuildingsoneitherside，vanishingintobluehazeatlastabovethelights，anddowntotheroaringtiersofplatforms，andtheshouting，runningpeoplewhoweregesticulatingpast。

"TheMasterisbetrayed！"theycried。"TheMasterisbetrayed！"

Suddenlythesituationshapeditselfinhismindrealandurgent。Hisheartbegantobeatfastandstrong。

"Ithascome，"hesaid。"Imighthaveknown。Thehourhascome。"

Hethoughtswiftly。"WhatamItodo？"

"GobacktotheCouncilHouse，"saidAsano。

"WhyshouldInotappeal——？Thepeoplearehere。

"Youwilllosetime。Theywilldoubtifitisyou。

ButtheywillmassabouttheCouncilHouse。Thereyouwillfind’theirleaders。Yourstrengthistherewiththem。"

"Supposethisisonlyarumour？"

"Itsoundstrue，"saidAsano。

"Letushavethefacts，"saidGraham。

Asanoshruggedhisshoulders。"WehadbettergettowardstheCouncilHouse，"hecried。"Thatiswheretheywillswarm。Evennowtheruinsmaybeimpassable。"

Grahamregardedhimdoubtfullyandfollowedhim。

Theywentupthesteppedplatformstotheswiftestone，andthereAsanoaccostedalabourer。Theanswerstohisquestionswereinthethick，vulgarspeech。

"Whatdidhesay？"askedGraham。

"Heknowslittle，buthetoldmethattheBlackPolicewouldhavearrivedherebeforethepeopleknew——hadnotsomeoneintheWind—VaneOfficesLearnt。Hesaidagirl。"

"Agirl？Not？"

"Hesaidagirl——hedidnotknowwhoshewas。

WhocameoutfromtheCouncilHousecryingaloud，andtoldthemenatworkamongtheruins。"

Andthenanotherthingwasshouted，somethingthatturnedanaimlesstumultintodeterminatemovements，itcamelikeawindalongthestreet。"ToyourWards，toyourWards。Everymangetarms。EverymantohisWard！"