"Speakingahorribledialect，coarseandweak。"
　　"Ihaveheardit。"
　　"Theyaretheslaves——yourslaves。TheyaretheslavesoftheLabourCompanyyouown。"
　　"TheLabourCompany！Insomeway——thatisfamiliar。Ah！nowIremember。IsawitwhenIwaswanderingaboutthecity，afterthelightsreturned，greatfrontsofbuildingscolouredpaleblue。Doyoureallymean——？"
　　"Yes。HowcanIexplainittoyou？Ofcoursetheblueuniformstruckyou。Nearlyathirdofourpeoplewearit——moreassumeitnoweveryday。ThisLabourCompanyhasgrownimperceptibly。"
　　"WhatisthisLabourCompany？"askedGraham。
　　"Intheoldtimes，howdidyoumanagewithstaningpeople？"
　　"Therewastheworkhouse——whichtheparishesmaintained。"
　　"Workhouse！Yes——therewassomething。Inourhistorylessons。Iremembernow。TheLabourCompanyoustedtheworkhouse。Itgrew——partly——
　　outofsomething——you，perhaps，mayrememberit——
　　anemotionalreligiousorganisationcalledtheSalvationArmy——thatbecameabusinesscompany。Inthefirstplaceitwasalmostacharity。Tosavepeoplefromworkhouserigours。NowIcometothinkofit，itwasoneoftheearliestpropertiesyourTrusteesacquired。TheyboughttheSalvationArmyandreconstructeditasthis。Theideainthefirstplacewastogiveworktostarvinghomelesspeople。"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Nowadaystherearenoworkhouses，norefugesandcharities，nothingbutthatCompany。Itsofficesareeverywhere。Thatblueisitscolour。Andanyman，womanorchildwhocomestobehungryandwearyandwithneitherhomenorfriendnorresort，mustgototheCompanyintheend——orseeksomewayofdeath。TheEuthanasyisbeyondtheirmeans——forthepoorthereisnoeasydeath。Andatanyhourinthedayornightthereisfood，shelterandablueuniformforallcomers——thatisthefirstconditionoftheCompanysincorporation——andinreturnforaday’ssheltertheCompanyextractsaday’swork，andthenreturnsthevisitor’sproperclothingandsendshimorheroutagain。"
　　"Yes？"
　　"Perhapsthatdoesnotseemsoterribletoyou。Inyourdaysmenstarvedinyourstreets。Thatwasbad。
　　Buttheydied——men。Thesepeopleinblue——。Theproverbruns：’Bluecanvasonceandever。’TheCompanytradesintheirlabour，andithastakencaretoassureitselfofthesupply。Peoplecometoitstarvingandhelpless——theyeatandsleepforanightandday，they—workforaday，andattheendofthedaytheygooutagain。Iftheyhaveworkedwelltheyhaveapennyorso——enoughforatheatreoracheapdancingplace，orakinematographstory，oradinnerorabet。Theywanderaboutafterthatisspent。Beggingispreventedbythepoliceoftheways。Besides，noonegives。Theycomebackagainthenextdayorthedayafter——broughtbackbythesameincapacitythatbroughtthemfirst。Atlasttheirproperclothingwearsout，ortheirragsgetsoshabbythattheyareashamed。Thentheymustworkformonthstogetfresh。Iftheywantfresh。A
　　greatnumberofchildrenarebornundertheCompany’scare。Themotherowesthemamonththereafter——thechildrentheycherishandeducateuntiltheyarefourteen，andtheypaytwoyears’service。
　　Youmaybesurethesechildrenareeducatedforthebluecanvas。AndsoitistheCompanyworks。"
　　"Andnonearedestituteinthecity？"
　　"None。Theyareeitherinbluecanvasorinprison。"
　　"Iftheywillnotwork？"
　　"Mostpeoplewillworkatthatpitch，andtheCompanyhaspowers。Therearestagesofunpleasantnessinthework——stoppageoffood——andamanorwomanwhohasrefusedtoworkonceisknownbyathumb—markingsystemintheCompany’sofficesallovertheworld。Besides，whocanleavethecitypoor？TogotoPariscoststwoLions。Andforinsubordinationtherearetheprisons——darkandmiserable——outofsightbelow。Thereareprisonsnowformanythings。"
　　"Andathirdofthepeoplewearthisbluecanvas？"
　　"Morethanathird。Toilers，livingwithoutprideordelightorhope，withthestoriesofPleasureCitiesringingintheirears，mockingtheirshamefullives，theirprivationsandhardships。ToopoorevenfortheEuthanasy，therichman’srefugefromlife。Dumb，crippledmillions，countlessmillions，alltheworldabout，ignorantofanythingbutlimitationsandunsatisfieddesires。Theyareborn，theyarethwartedandtheydie。Thatisthestatetowhichwehavecome。"
　　ForaspaceGrahamsatdowncast。
　　"Buttherehasbeenarevolution，"hesaid。"Allthesethingswillbechanged。"Ostrog——"
　　"Thatisourhope。Thatisthehopeoftheworld。
　　ButOstrogwillnotdoit。Heisapolitician。Tohimitseemsthingsmustbelikethis。Hedoesnotmind。
　　Hetakesitforgranted。Alltherich，alltheinfluential，allwhoarehappy，comeatlasttotakethesemiseriesforgranted。Theyusethepeopleintheirpolitics，theyliveineasebytheirdegradation。Butyou——youwhocomefromahappierage——itistoyouthepeoplelook。Toyou。"
　　Helookedatherface。Hereyeswerebrightwithunshedtears。Hefeltarushofemotion。Foramomentheforgotthiscity，heforgottherace，andallthosevagueremotevoices，intheimmediatehumanityofherbeauty。
　　"ButwhatamItodo？"hesaidwithhiseyesuponher。
　　"Rule，"sheanswered，bendingtowardshimandspeakinginalowtone。"Ruletheworldasithasneverbeenruled，forthegoodandhappinessofmen。
　　Foryoumightruleit——youcouldruleit。
　　"Thepeoplearestirring。Allovertheworldthepeoplearestirring。Itwantsbutaword——butawordfromyou——tobringthemalltogether。Eventhemiddlesortofpeoplearerestlessunhappy。
　　"Theyarenottellingyouthethingsthatarehappening。Thepeoplewillnotgobacktotheirdrudgery——theyrefusetobedisarmed。Ostroghasawakenedsomethinggreaterthanhedreamtof——hehasawakenedhopes。"
　　Hisheartwasbeatingfast。Hetriedtoseemjudicial，toweighconsiderations。
　　"Theyonlywanttheirleader，"shesaid。
　　"Andthen？"
　　"Youcoulddowhatyouwould；——theworldisyours。"
　　Hesat，nolongerregardingher。Presentlyhespoke。"Theolddreams，andthethingIhavedreamt，liberty，happiness。Aretheydreams？
　　Couldoneman——oneman——？"Hisvoicesankandceased。
　　"Notoneman，butallmen——givethemonlyaleadertospeakthedesireoftheirhearts。"
　　Heshookhishead，andforatimetherewassilence。
　　Helookedupsuddenly，andtheireyesmet。"I
　　havenotyourfaith，"hesaid。"Ihavenotyouryouth。
　　Iamherewithpowerthatmocksme。No——letmespeak。Iwanttodo——notright——Ihavenotthestrengthforthat——butsomethingratherrightthanwrong。Itwillbringnomillenium，butIamresolvednowthatIwillrule。Whatyouhavesaidhasawakenedme……Youareright。Ostrogmustknowhisplace。AndIwilllearn——……OnethingIpromiseyou。ThisLabourslaveryshallend。"
　　"Andyouwillrule？"
　　"Yes。Provided——。Thereisonething。"
　　"
　　Yes？"
　　"
　　Thatyouwillhelpme。"
　　"I！——agirl！"
　　"Yes。DoesitnotoccurtoyouIamabsolutelyalone？"
　　Shestartedandforaninstanthereyeshadpity。
　　"NeedyouaskwhetherIwillhelpyou？"shesaid。
　　Shestoodbeforehim，beautiful，worshipful，andherenthusiasmandthegreatnessoftheirthemewaslikeagreatgulffixedbetweenthem。Totouchher，toclaspherhand，wasathingbeyondhope。"ThenIwillruleindeed，"hesaidslowly。"Iwillrule—"
　　Hepaused。"Withyou。"
　　Therecameatensesilence，andthenthebeatingaclockstrikingthehour。Shemadehimnoanswer。
　　Grahamrose。
　　Evennow，"hesaid，"Ostrogwillbewaiting。"Hehesitated，facingher。"WhenIhaveaskedhimcertainquestions——。ThereismuchIdonotknow。Itmaybe，thatIwillgotoseewithmyowneyesthethingsofwhichyouhavespoken。AndwhenIreturn——？"
　　"Ishallknowofyourgoingandcoming。Iwillwaitforyouhereagain。"
　　Hestoodforamomentregardingher。
　　"Iknew，"shesaid，andstopped。
　　Hewaited，butshesaidnomore。Theyregardedoneanothersteadfastly，questioningly，andthenheturnedfromhertowardstheWindVaneoffice。
　　CHAPTERXIX
　　OSTROGSPOINTOFVIEW
　　GrahamfoundOstrogwaitingtogiveaformalaccountofhisday’sstewardship。Onpreviousoccasionshehadpassedoverthisceremonyasspeedilyaspossible，inordertoresumehisaerialexperiences，butnowhebegantoaskquickshortquestions。Hewasveryanxioustotakeuphisempireforthwith。Ostrogbroughtflatteringreportsofthedevelopmentofaffairsabroad。InParisandBerlin，Grahamperceivedthathewassaying，therehadbeentrouble，notorganisedresistanceindeed，butinsubordinateproceedings。"Afteralltheseyears，"
　　saidOstrog，whenGrahampressedenquiries；
　　"theCommunehaslifteditsheadagain。Thatistherealnatureofthestruggle，tobeexplicit。"
　　Butorderhadbeenrestoredinthesecities。Graham，themoredeliberatelyjudicialforthestirringemotionshefelt，askediftherehadbeenanyfighting。"A
　　little，"saidOstrog。"Inonequarteronly。ButtheSenegalesedivisionofourAfricanagriculturalpolice——
　　theConsolidatedAfricanCompanieshaveaverywelldrilledpolice——wasready，andsoweretheaeroplanes。
　　Weexpectedalittletroubleinthecontinentalcities，andinAmerica。ButthingsareveryquietinAmerica。
　　TheyaresatisfiedwiththeoverthrowoftheCouncilForthetime。"
　　"Whyshouldyouexpecttrouble？"askedGrahamabruptly。
　　"Thereisalotofdiscontent——socialdiscontent。"
　　"TheLabourCompany？"
　　"Youarelearning，"saidOstrogwithatouchofsurprise。"Yes。ItischieflythediscontentwiththeLabourCompany。Itwasthatdiscontentsuppliedthemotiveforceofthisoverthrow——thatandyourawakening。"
　　"Yes？"
　　Ostrogsmiled。Hebecameexplicit。"Wehadtostiruptheirdiscontent，wehadtorevivetheoldidealsofuniversalhappiness——allmenequal——allmenhappy——noluxurythateveryonemaynotshare——
　　ideasthathaveslumberedfortwohundredyears。Youknowthat？Wehadtorevivetheseideals，impossibleastheyare——inordertooverthrowtheCouncil。Andnow——"
　　"Well？"
　　"Ourrevolutionisaccomplished，andtheCouncilisoverthrown，andpeoplewhomwehavestirredupremainsurging。Therewasscarcelyenoughfighting……Wemadepromises，ofcourse。Itisextraordinaryhowviolentlyandrapidlythisvagueout—of—datehumanitarianismhasrevivedandspread。
　　Wewhosowedtheseedeven，havebeenastonished。
　　InParis，asIsay——wehavehadtocallinalittleexternalhelp。"
　　"Andhere？"
　　"Thereistrouble。Multitudeswillnotgobacktowork。Thereisageneralstrike。HalfthefactoriesareemptyandthepeopleareswarmingintheWays。TheyaretalkingofaCommune。Meninsilkandsatinhavebeeninsultedinthestreets。Thebluecanvasisexpectingallsortsofthingsfromyou……
　　Ofcoursethereisnoneedforyoutotrouble。WearesettingtheBabbleMachinestoworkwithcountersuggestionsinthecauseoflawandorder。Wemustkeepthegriptight；thatisall。"
　　Grahamthought。Heperceivedawayofassertinghimself。Buthespokewithrestraint。
　　"Eventothepitchofbringinganegropolice，"hesaid。
　　"Theyareuseful，"saidOstrog。"Theyarefineloyalbrutes，withnowashofideasintheirheads——
　　suchasourrabblehas。TheCouncilshouldhavehadthemaspoliceoftheWays，andthingsmighthavebeendifferent。Ofcourse，thereisnothingtofearexceptriotingandwreckage。Youcanmanageyourownwingsnow，andyoucansoarawaytoCapriifthereisanysmokeorfuss。Wehavethepullofallthegreatthings；theaeronautsareprivilegedandrich，theclosesttradesunionintheworld，andsoaretheengineersofthewindvanes。Wehavetheair，andthemasteryoftheairisthemasteryoftheearth。Nooneofanyabilityisorganisingagainstus。Theyhavenoleaders——onlythesectionalleadersofthesecretsocietyweorganisedbeforeyourveryopportuneawakening。Merebusybodiesandsentimentaliststheyareandbitterlyjealousofeachother。Noneofthemismanenoughforacentralfigure。Theonlytroublewillbeadisorganisedupheaval。Tobefrank——thatmayhappen。Butitwon’tinterruptyouraeronautics。
　　ThedayswhenthePeoplecouldmakerevolutionsarepast。"
　　"Isupposetheyare，"saidGraham。"Isupposetheyare。"Hemused。"Thisworldofyourshasbeenfullofsurprisestome。Intheolddayswedreamtofawonderfuldemocraticlife，ofatimewhenallmenwouldbeequalandhappy。"
　　Ostroglookedathimsteadfastly。"Thedayofdemocracyispast，"hesaid。"Pastforever。ThatdaybeganwiththebowmenofCrecy，itendedwhenmarchinginfantry，whencommonmeninmassesceasedtowinthebattlesoftheworld，whencostlycannon，greatironclads，andstrategicrailwaysbecamethemeansofpower。To—dayisthedayofwealth。
　　Wealthnowispowerasitneverwaspowerbefore——
　　itcommandsearthandseaandsky。Allpowerisforthosewhocanhandlewealth……Youmustacceptfacts，andthesearefacts。TheworldfortheCrowd！TheCrowdasRuler！Eveninyourdaysthatcreedhadbeentriedandcondemned。To—dayithasonlyonebeliever——amultiplex，sillyone——themallintheCrowd。"
　　Grahamdidnotanswerimmediately。Hestoodlostinsombrepreoccupations。
　　"No，"saidOstrog。"Thedayofthecommonmanispast。Ontheopencountrysideonemanisasgoodasanother，ornearlyasgood。Theearlieraristocracyhadaprecarioustenureofstrengthandaudacity。
　　Theyweretempered——tempered。Therewereinsurrections，duels，riots。Thefirstrealaristocracy，thefirstpermanentaristocracy，cameinwithcastlesandarmour，andvanishedbeforethemusketandbow。
　　Butthisisthesecondaristocracy。Therealone。
　　Thosedaysofgunpowderanddemocracywereonlyaneddyinthestream。Thecommonmannowisahelplessunit。Inthesedayswehavethisgreatmachineofthecity，andanorganisationcomplexbeyondhisunderstanding。"
　　"Yet，"saidGraham，"thereissomethingresists，somethingyouareholdingdown——somethingthatstirsandpresses。"
　　"Youwillsee，"saidOstrog，withaforcedsmilethatwouldbrushthesedifficultquestionsaside。"Ihavenotrousedtheforcetodestroymyself——trustme。"
　　"Iwonder，"saidGraham。
　　Ostrogstared。
　　"Musttheworldgothisway？"saidGraham，withhisemotionsatthespeakingpoint。"Mustitindeedgointhisway？Haveallourhopesbeenvain？"
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"saidOstrog。"Hopes？"
　　"Icamefromademocraticage。AndIfindanaristocratictyranny！"
　　"Well，——butyouarethechieftyrant。"
　　Grahamshookhishead。
　　"Well，"saidOstrog，"takethegeneralquestion。
　　Itisthewaythatchangehasalwaystravelled。
　　Aristocracy，theprevalenceofthebest——thesufferingandextinctionoftheunfit，andsotobetterthings。"
　　"Butaristocracy！thosepeopleImet——"
　　"Oh！notthose！"saidOstrog。"Butforthemostparttheygototheirdeath。Viceandpleasure！Theyhavenochildren。Thatsortofstuffwilldieout。Iftheworldkeepstooneroad，thatis，ifthereisnoturningback。Aneasyroadtoexcess，convenientEuthanasiaforthepleasureseekerssingedintheflame，thatisthewaytoimprovetherace！"
　　"Pleasantextinction，"saidGraham。"Yet——。"
　　Hethoughtforaninstant。"Thereisthatotherthing——theCrowd，thegreatmassofpoormen。Willthatdieout？Thatwillnotdieout。Anditsuffers，itssufferingisaforcethatevenyou——"
　　Ostrogmovedimpatiently，andwhenhespoke，hespokeratherlessevenlythanbefore。
　　"Don’tyoutroubleaboutthesethings，"hesaid。
　　Everythingwillbesettledinafewdaysnow。TheCrowdisahugefoolishbeast。Whatifitdoesnotdieout？Evenifitdoesnotdie，itcanstillbetamedanddriven。Ihavenosympathywithservilemen。
　　Youheardthosepeopleshoutingandsingingtwonightsago。Theyweretaughtthatsong。Ifyouhadtakenanymanthereincoldbloodandaskedwhyheshouted，hecouldnothavetoldyou。Theythinktheyareshoutingforyou，thattheyareloyalanddevotedtoyou。JustthentheywerereadytoslaughtertheCouncil。To—day——theyarealreadymurmuringagainstthosewhohaveoverthrowntheCouncil。"
　　"No，no，"saidGraham。"Theyshoutedbecausetheirlivesweredreary，withoutjoyorpride，andbecauseinme——inme——theyhoped。"
　　"Andwhatwastheirhope？Whatistheirhope？
　　Whatrighthavetheytohope？Theyworkillandtheywanttherewardofthosewhoworkwell。Thehopeofmankind——whatisit？ThatsomedaytheOver—manmaycome，thatsomedaytheinferior，theweakandthebestialmaybesubduedoreliminated。
　　Subduedifnoteliminated。Theworldisnoplaceforthebad，thestupid，theenervated。Theirduty——it’safinedutytoo！——istodie。Thedeathofthefailure！
　　Thatisthepathbywhichthebeastrosetomanhood，bywhichmangoesontohigherthings。"
　　Ostrogtookapace，seemedtothink，andturnedonGraham。"IcanimaginehowthisgreatworldstateofoursseemstoaVictorianEnglishman。Youregretalltheoldformsofrepresentativegovernment——theirspectresstillhaunttheworld，thevotingcouncilsandparliamentsandallthateighteenthcenturytomfooleryYoufeelmovedagainstourPleasureCities。Imighthavethoughtofthat，——hadInotbeenbusy。Butyouwilllearnbetter。Thepeoplearemadwithenvy——theywouldbeinsympathywithyou。Eveninthestreetsnow，theyclamourtodestroythePleasureCities。
　　ButthePleasureCitiesaretheexcretoryorgansoftheState，attractiveplacesthatyearafteryeardrawtogetherallthatisweakandvicious，allthatislasciviousandlazy，alltheeasyrogueryoftheworld，toagracefuldestruction。Theygothere，theyhavetheirtime，theydiechildless，alltheprettysillylasciviouswomendiechildless，andmankindisthebetter。Ifthepeopleweresanetheywouldnotenvytherichtheirwayofdeath。Andyouwouldemancipatethesillybrainlessworkersthatwehaveenslaved，andtrytomaketheirliveseasyandpleasantagain。Justastheyhavesunktowhattheyarefitfor。"HesmiledasmilethatirritatedGrahamoddly。"Youwilllearnbetter。Iknowthoseideas；inmyboyhoodIreadyourShelleyanddreamtofLiberty。Thereisnoliberty，savewisdomandselfcontrol。Libertyiswithin——notwithout。Itiseachman’sownaffair。
　　Suppose——whichisimpossible——thattheseswarmingyelpingfoolsinbluegettheupperhandofus，whatthen？Theywillonlyfalltoothermasters。SolongastherearesheepNaturewillinsistonbeastsofprey。
　　Itwouldmeanbutafewhundredyears’delay。Thecomingofthearistocratisfatalandassured。TheendwillbetheOver—man——forallthemadprotestsofhumanity。Letthemrevolt，letthemwinandkillmeandmylike。Otherswillarise——othermasters。Theendwillbethesame。"
　　"Iwonder，"saidGrahamdoggedly。
　　Foramomenthestooddowncast。
　　"ButImustseethesethingsformyself，"hesaid，suddenlyassumingatoneofconfidentmastery。
　　"OnlybyseeingcanIunderstand。Imustlearn。
　　ThatiswhatIwanttotellyou，Ostrog。IdonotwanttobeKinginaPleasureCity；thatisnotmy，pleasure。Ihavespentenoughtimewithaeronautics——andthoseotherthings。Imustlearnhowpeoplelivenow，howthecommonlifehasdeveloped。ThenI
　　shallunderstandthesethingsbetter。Imustlearnhowcommonpeoplelive——thelabourpeoplemoreespecially——howtheywork，marry，bearchildren，die——"
　　"Yougetthatfromourrealisticnovelists，"
　　suggestedOstrog，suddenlypreoccupied。
　　"Iwantreality，"saidGraham，"notrealism。"
　　"Therearedifficulties，"saidOstrog，andthought。
　　"Onthewholeperhaps——
　　"Ididnotexpect——。
　　"Ihadthought——。Andyet，perhaps——。YousayyouwanttogothroughtheWaysofthecityandseethecommonpeople。"
　　Suddenlyhecametosomeconclusion。"Youwouldneedtogodisguised，"hesaid。"Thecityisintenselyexcited，andthediscoveryofyourpresenceamongthemmightcreateafearfultumult。Stillthiswishofyourstogointothiscity——thisideaofyours——。Yes，nowIthinkthethingoveritseemstomenotaltogether——。Itcanbecontrived。Ifyouwouldreallyfindaninterestinthat！Youare，ofcourse，Master。Youcangosoonifyoulike。A
　　disguiseforthisexcursionAsanowillbeabletomanage。
　　Hewouldgowithyou。Afterallitisnotabadideaofyours。"
　　"Youwillnotwanttoconsultmeinanymatter？"
　　askedGrahamsuddenly，struckbyanoddsuspicion。
　　"Oh，dearno！No！Ithinkyoumaytrustaffairstomeforatime，atanyrate，"saidOstrog，smiling。
　　"Evenifwediffer——"
　　Grahamglanced；athimsharply。
　　"Thereisnofightinglikelytohappensoon？"heaskedabruptly。
　　"Certainlynot。"
　　"Ihavebeenthinkingaboutthesenegroes。Idon’tbelievethepeopleintendanyhostilitytome，and，afterall，IamtheMaster。IdonotwantanynegroesbroughttoLondon。Itisanarchaicprejudiceperhaps，butIhavepeculiarfeelingsaboutEuropeansandthesubjectraces。EvenaboutParis———"
　　Ostrogstoodwatchinghimfromunderhisdroopingbrows。"IamnotbringingnegroestoLondon，"
　　hesaidslowly。"Butif——"
　　"YouarenottobringarmednegroestoLondon，whateverhappens，"saidGraham。"InthatmatterI
　　amquitedecided。"
　　Ostrog，afterapause，decidednottospeak，andboweddeferentially。
　　CHAPTERXX
　　INTHECITYWAYS
　　Andthatnight，unknownandunsuspected，Graham，dressedinthecostumeofaninferiorwind—vaneofficialkeepingholiday，andaccompaniedbyAsanoinLabourCompanycanvas，surveyedthecitythroughwhichhehadwanderedwhenitwasveiledindarkness。
　　Butnowhesawitlitandwaking，awhirlpooloflife。
　　Inspiteofthesurgingandswayingoftheforcesofrevolution，inspiteoftheunusualdiscontent，themutteringsofthegreaterstruggleofwhichthefirstrevoltwasbuttheprelude，themyriadstreamsofcommercestillflowedwideandstrong。Heknewnowsomethingofthedimensionsandqualityofthenewage，buthewasnotpreparedfortheinfinitesurpriseofthedetailedview，forthetorrentofcolourandvividimpressionsthatpouredpasthim。
　　Thiswashisfirstrealcontactwiththepeopleoftheselatterdays。Herealisedthatallthathadgonebefore，savinghisglimpsesofthepublictheatresandmarkets，hadhaditselementofseclusion，hadbeenamovementwithinthecomparativelynarrowpoliticalquarter，thatallhispreviousexperienceshadrevolvedimmediatelyaboutthequestionofhisownposition。
　　Butherewasthecityatthebusiesthoursofnight，thepeopletoalargeextentreturnedtotheirownimmediateinterests，theresumptionoftherealinformallife，hecommonhabitsofthenewtime。
　　Theyemergedatfirstintoastreetwhoseoppositewayswerecrowdedwiththebluecanvasliveries。ThisswarmGrahamsawwasaportionofaprocession——
　　itwasoddtoseeaprocessionparadingthecityseatedTheycarriedbannersofcoarseredstuffwithredletters。"Nodisarmament，"saidthebanners，forthemostpartincrudelydaubedlettersandwithvariantspelling，and"Whyshouldwedisarm？""Nodisarming。"
　　"Nodisarming。"Bannerafterbannerwentby，astreamofbannersflowingpast，andatlastattheend，thesongoftherevoltandanoisybandofstrangeinstruments。"Theyalloughttobeatwork，"
　　saidAsano。"Theyhavehadnofoodthesetwodays，ortheyhavestolenit。"
　　PresentlyAsanomadeadetourtoavoidthecongestedcrowdthatgapedupontheoccasionalpassageofdeadbodiesfromhospitaltoamortuary，thegleaningsafterdeath’sharvestofthefirstrevolt。
　　Thatnightfewpeopleweresleeping，everyonewasabroad。Avastexcitement，perpetualcrowdsperpetuallychanging，surroundedGraham；hismindwasconfusedanddarkenedbyanincessanttumult，bythecriesandenigmaticalfragmentsofthesocialstrugglethatwasasyetonlybeginning。Everywherefestoonsandbannersofblackandstrangedecorations，intensifiedthequalityofhispopularity。