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！"