"Aboutfourteen。"
　　"Idon’tunderstand。"
　　"Veryprobablynot。Oursocialorderwillprobablyseemverycomplextoyou。Totellyouthetruth，I
　　don’tunderstanditmyselfveryclearly。Nobodydoes。
　　Youwill，perhaps——byeandbye。WehavetogototheCouncil。"
　　Graham’sattentionwasdividedbetweentheurgentnecessityofhisinquiriesandthepeopleinthepassagesandhallstheyweretraversing。ForamomenthismindwouldbeconcentrateduponHowardandthehaltinganswershemade，andthenhewouldlosethethreadinresponsetosomevividunexpectedimpression。Alongthepassages，inthehalls，halfthepeopleseemedtobemeninthereduniform。Thepalebluecanvasthathadbeensoabundantintheaisleofmovingwaysdidnotappear。Invariablythesemenlookedathim，andsalutedhimandHowardastheypassed。
　　Hehadaclearvisionofenteringalongcorridor，andtherewereanumberofgirlssittingonlowseatsandasthoughinaclass。Hesawnoteacher，butonlyanovelapparatusfromwhichhefanciedavoiceproceeded。
　　Thegirlsregardedhimandhisconductor，hethought，withcuriosityandastonishment。Buthewashurriedonbeforehecouldformaclearideaofthegathering。HejudgedtheyknewHowardandnothimself，andthattheywonderedwhohewas。ThisHoward，itseemed，wasapersonofimportance。ButthenhewasalsomerelyGraham’sguardian。Thatwasodd。
　　Therecameapassageintwilight，andintothispassageafootwayhungsothathecouldseethefeetandanklesofpeoplegoingtoandfrothereon，butnomoreofthem。Thenvagueimpressionsofgalleriesandofcasualastonishedpassers—byturningroundtostareafterthetwoofthemwiththeirred—cladguard。
　　Thestimulusoftherestorativeshehadtakenwasonlytemporary。Hewasspeedilyfatiguedbythisexcessivehaste。HeaskedHowardtoslackenhisspeed。Presentlyhewasinaliftthathadawindowuponthegreatstreetspace，butthiswasglazedanddidnotopen，andtheyweretoohighforhimtoseethemovingplatformsbelow。Buthesawpeoplegoingtoandfroalongcablesandalongstrange，frail—lookingridges。
　　Andthencetheypassedacrossthestreetandatavastheightaboveit。Theycrossedbymeansofanarrowbridgeclosedinwithglass，soclearthatitmadehimgiddyeventorememberit。Thefloorofitalsowasofglass。FromhismemoryofthecliffsbetweenNewQuayandBoscastle，soremoteintime，andsorecentinhisexperience，itseemedtohimthattheymustbenearfourhundredfeetabovethemovingways。Hestopped，lookeddownbetweenhislegsupontheswarmingblueandredmultitudes，minuteandfore—
　　shortened，strugglingandgesticulatingstilltowardsthelittlebalconyfarbelow，alittletoybalcony，itseemed，wherehehadsorecentlybeenstanding。A
　　thinhazeandtheglareofthemightyglobesoflightobscuredeverything。Amanseatedinalittleopen—
　　workcradleshotbyfromsomepointstillhigherthanthelittlenarrowbridge，rushingdownacableasswiftlyalmostasifhewerefalling。Grahamstoppedinvoluntarilytowatchthisstrangepassengervanishinagreatcircularopeningbelow，andthenhiseyeswentbacktothetumultuousstruggle。
　　Alongoneoftheswifterwaysrushedathickcrowdofredspots。Thisbrokeupintoindividualsasitapproachedthebalcony，andwentpouringdowntheslowerwaystowardsthedensestrugglingcrowdonthecentralarea。Thesemeninredappearedtobearmedwithsticksortruncheons；theyseemedtobestrikingandthrusting。Agreatshouting，criesofwrath，screaming，burstoutandcameuptoGraham，faintandthin。"Goon，"criedHoward，layinghandsonhim。
　　Anothermanrusheddownacable。Grahamsuddenlyglanceduptoseewhencehecame，andbeheldthroughtheglassyroofandthenetworkofcablesandgirders，dimrhythmicallypassingformslikethevansofwindmills，andbetweenthemglimpsesofaremoteandpallidsky。ThenHowardhadthrusthimforwardacrossthebridge，andhewasinalittlenarrowpassagedecoratedwithgeometricalpatterns。
　　"Iwanttoseemoreofthat，"criedGraham，resisting。
　　"No，no，"criedHoward，stillgrippinghisarm。
　　"Thisway。Youmustgothisway。"Andthemeninredfollowingthemseemedreadytoenforcehisorders。
　　Somenegroesinacuriouswasp—likeuniformofblackandyellowappeareddownthepassage，andonehastenedtothrowupaslidingshutterthathadseemedadoortoGraham，andledthewaythroughit。
　　Grahamfoundhimselfinagalleryoverhangingtheendofagreatchamber。Theattendantinblackandyellowcrossedthis，thrustupasecondshutterandstoodwaiting。
　　Thisplacehadtheappearanceofanante—room。Hesawanumberofpeopleinthecentralspace，andattheoppositeendalargeandimposingdoorwayatthetopofaflightofsteps，heavilycurtainedbutgivingaglimpseofsomestilllargerhallbeyond。Heperceivedwhitemeninredandothernegroesinblackandyellowstandingstifflyaboutthoseportals。
　　Astheycrossedthegalleryheheardawhisperfrombelow，"TheSleeper，"andwasawareofaturningofheads，ahumofobservation。Theyenteredanotherlittlepassageinthewallofthisante—chamber，andthenhefoundhimselfonaniron—railedgalleryofmetalthatpassedroundthesideofthegreathallhehadalreadyseenthroughthecurtains。Heenteredtheplaceatthecorner，sothathereceivedthefullestimpressionofitshugeproportions。Theblackinthewaspuniformstoodasidelikeawell—trainedservant，andclosedthevalvebehindhim。
　　ComparedwithanyoftheplacesGrahamhadseethusfar，thissecondhallappearedtobedecoratewithextremerichness。Onapedestalattheremoteend，andmorebrilliantlylitthananyotherobject，wasagiganticwhitefigureofAtlas，strongandstrenuous，theglobeuponhisbowedshoulders。Itwasthefirstthingtostrikehisattention，itwassovast，sopatientlyandpainfullyreal，sowhiteandsimple。Saveforthisfigureandforadaisinthecentre，thewideflooroftheplacewasashiningvacancy。Thedaiswasremoteinthegreatnessofthearea；itwouldhavelookedamereslabofmetalhaditnotbeenforthegroupofsevenmenwhostoodaboutatableonit，andgaveaninklingofitsproportions。Theywerealldressedinwhiterobes，theyseemedtohavearisenthatmomentfromtheirseats，andtheywereregardingGrahamsteadfastly。Attheendofthetableheperceivedtheglitterofsomemechanicalappliances。
　　Howardledhimalongtheendgalleryuntiltheywereoppositethismightylabouringfigure。Thenhestopped。ThetwomeninredwhohadfollowedthemintothegallerycameandstoodoneitherhandofGraham。
　　"Youmustremainhere，"murmuredHoward，"forafewmoments，"and，withoutwaitingforareply，hurriedawayalongthegallery。
　　"But，__why？"__beganGraham。
　　HemovedasiftofollowHoward，andfoundhispathobstructedbyoneofthemeninred。"Youhavetowaithere，Sire，"saidthemaninred。
　　__"Why？"__
　　"Orders，Sire。"
　　"Whoseorders？"
　　"Ourorders，Sire。"
　　Grahamlookedhisexasperation。
　　"Whatplaceisthis？"hesaidpresently。"Whoarethosemen？"
　　"TheyarethelordsoftheCouncil，Sire。"
　　"WhatCouncil？"
　　"__The__Council。"
　　"Oh！"saidGraham，andafteranequallyineffectualattemptattheotherman，wenttotherailingandstaredatthedistantmeninwhite，whostoodwatchinghimandwhisperingtogether。
　　TheCouncil？Heperceivedtherewerenoweight，thoughhowthenewcomerhadarrivedhehadnotobserved。Theymadenogesturesofgreeting；theystoodregardinghimasinthenineteenthcenturyagroupofmenmighthavestoodinthestreetregardingadistantballoonthathadsuddenlyfloatedintoview。
　　Whatcouncilcoulditbethatgatheredthere，thatlittlebodyofmenbeneaththesignificantwhiteAtlas，secludedfromeveryeavesdropperinthisimpressivespaciousness？Andwhyshouldhebebroughttothem，andbelookedatstrangelyandspokenofinaudibly？Howardappearedbeneath，walkingquicklyacrossthepolishedfloortowardsthem。Ashedrewnearhebowedandperformedcertainpeculiarmovements，apparentlyofaceremoniousnature。
　　Thenheascendedthestepsofthedais，andstoodbytheapparatusattheendofthetable。
　　Grahamwatchedthatvisibleinaudibleconversation。
　　Occasionally，oneofthewhite—robedmenwouldglancetowardshim。Hestrainedhisearsinvain。
　　Thegesticulationoftwoofthespeakersbecameanimated。Heglancedfromthemtothepassivefacesofhisattendants……WhenhelookedagainHowardwasextendinghishandsandmovinghisheadlikeamanwhoprotests。Hewasinterrupted，itseemed，byoneofthewhite—robedmenrappingthetable。
　　TheconversationlastedaninterminabletimetoGraham’ssense。HiseyesrosetothestillgiantatwhosefeettheCouncilsat。Thencetheywanderedatlasttothewallsofthehall。Itwasdecoratedinlongpaintedpanelsofaquasi—Japanesetype，manyofthemverybeautiful。Thesepanelsweregroupedinagreatandelaborateframingofdarkmetal，whichpassedintothemetalliccaryatidaeofthegalleries，andthegreatstructurallinesoftheinterior。Thefacilegraceofthesepanelsenhancedthemightywhiteeffortthatlabouredinthecentreofthescheme。Graham’seyescamebacktotheCouncil，andHowardwasdescendingthesteps。Ashedrewnearerhisfeaturescouldbedistinguished，andGrahamsawthathewasflushedandblowingouthischeeks。Hiscountenancewasstilldisturbedwhenpresentlyhereappearedalongthegallery。
　　"Thisway，"hesaidconcisely，andtheywentoninsilencetoalittledoorthatopenedattheirapproach。
　　Thetwomeninredstoppedoneithersideofthisdoor。
　　HowardandGrahampassedin，andGraham，glancingback，sawthewhite—robedCouncilstillstandinginaclosegroupandlookingathim。Thenthedoorclosedbehindhimwithaheavythud，andforthefirsttimesincehisawakeninghewasinsilence。Thefloor，even，wasnoiselesstohisfeet。
　　Howardopenedanotherdoor，andtheywereinthefirstoftwocontiguouschambersfurnishedinwhiteandgreen。"WhatCouncilwasthat？"beganGraham。
　　"Whatweretheydiscussing？Whathavetheytodowithme？"Howardclosedthedoorcarefully，heavedahugesigh，andsaidsomethinginanundertone。Hewalkedslantingwaysacrosstheroomandturned，blowingouthischeeksagain。"Ugh！"
　　hegrunted，amanrelieved。
　　Grahamstoodregardinghim。
　　"Youmustunderstand，"beganHowardabruptly，avoidingGraham’seyes，"thatoursocialorderisverycomplex。Ahalfexplanation，abareunqualifiedstatementwouldgiveyoufalseimpressions。Asamatteroffact——itisacaseofcompoundinterestpartly——yoursmallfortune，andthefortuneofyourcousinWarmingwhichwaslefttoyou——andcertainotherbeginnings——havebecomeveryconsiderable。
　　Andinotherwaysthatwillbehardforyoutounderstand，youhavebecomeapersonofsignificance——ofveryconsiderablesignificance——involvedintheworld’saffairs。"
　　Hestopped。
　　"Yes？"saidGraham。
　　"Wehavegravesocialtroubles。"
　　"Yes？"
　　"Thingshavecometosuchapassthat，infact，isadvisabletosecludeyouhere。"
　　"Keepmeprisoner！"exclaimedGraham。
　　"Well——toaskyoutokeepinseclusion。"
　　Grahamturnedonhim。"Thisisstrange！"hesaid。
　　"Noharmwillbedoneyou。"
　　"Noharm！"
　　"Butyoumustbekepthere——"
　　"WhileIlearnmyposition，Ipresume。"
　　"Precisely。"
　　"Verywellthen。Begin。Why__harm？__"
　　"Notnow。"
　　"Whynot？"
　　"Itistoolongastory，Sire。"
　　"AllthemorereasonIshouldbeginatonce。YousayIamapersonofimportance。WhatwasthatshoutingIheard？Whyisagreatmultitudeshoutingandexcitedbecausemytranceisover，andwhoarethemeninwhiteinthathugecouncilchamber？"
　　"Allingoodtime，Sire，"saidHoward。"Butnotcrudely，notcrudely。Thisisoneofthoseflimsytimeswhennomanhasasettledmind。Yourawakening。
　　Nooneexpectedyourawakening。TheCouncilisconsulting。"
　　"Whatcouncil？"
　　"TheCouncilyousaw。"
　　Grahammadeapetulantmovement。"Thisisnotright，"hesaid。"Ishouldbetoldwhatishappening。
　　"Youmustwait。Reallyyoumustwait。"
　　Grahamsatdownabruptly。"IsupposesinceI
　　havewaitedsolongtoresumelife，"hesaid，"thatI
　　mustwaitalittlelonger。"
　　"Thatisbetter，"saidHoward。"Yes，thatismuchbetter。AndImustleaveyoualone。Foraspace。
　　WhileIattendthediscussionintheCouncil。
　　Iamsorry。"
　　Hewenttowardsthenoiselessdoor，hesitatedandvanished。
　　Grahamwalkedtothedoor，triedit，founditsecurelyfastenedinsomewayhenevercametounderstand，turnedabout，pacedtheroomrestlessly，madethecircuitoftheroom，andsatdown。Heremainedsittingforsometimewithfoldedarmsandknittedbrow，bitinghisfingernailsandtryingtopiecetogetherthekaleidoscopicimpressionsofthisfirsthourofawakenedlife；thevastmechanicalspaces，theendlessseriesofchambersandpassages，thegreatstrugglethatroaredandsplashedthroughthesestrangeways，thelittlegroupofremoteunsympatheticmenbeneaththecolossalAtlas，Howard’smysteriousbehaviour。Therewasaninklingofsomevastinheritancealreadyinhismind——avastinheritanceperhapsmisapplied——ofsomeunprecedentedimportanceandopportunity。Whathadhetodo？Andthisroom’ssecludedsilencewaseloquentofimprisonment！
　　ItcameintoGraham’smindwithirresistibleconvictionthatthisseriesofmagnificentimpressionswasadream。Hetriedtoshuthiseyesandsucceeded，butthattime—honoureddeviceledtonoawakening。
　　Presentlyhebegantotouchandexaminealltheunfamiliarappointmentsofthetwosmallroomsinwhichhefoundhimself。
　　Inalongovalpanelofmirrorhesawhimselfandstoppedastonished。Hewascladinagracefulcostumeofpurpleandbluishwhite，withalittlegreyshotbeardtrimmedtoapoint，andhishair，itsblacknessstreakednowwithbandsofgrey，arrangedoverhisforeheadinanunfamiliarbutgracefulmanner。Heseemedamanoffive—and—fortyperhaps。Foramomenthedidnotperceivethiswashimself。
　　Aflashoflaughtercamewiththerecognition。"TocallonoldWarminglikethis！"heexclaimed，"andmakehimtakemeouttolunch！"
　　Thenhethoughtofmeetingfirstoneandthenanotherofthefewfamiliaracquaintancesofhisearlymanhood，andinthemidstofhisamusementrealisedthateverysoulwithwhomhemightjesthaddiedmanyscoreofyearsago。Thethoughtsmotehimabruptlyandkeenly；hestoppedshort，theexpressionofhisfacechangedtoawhiteconsternation。
　　Thetumultuousmemoryofthemovingplatformsandthehugefacadeofthatwonderfulstreetreasserteditself。Theshoutingmultitudescamebackclearandvivid，andthoseremote，inaudible，unfriendlycouncilorsinwhite。Hefelthimselfalittlefigure，verysmallandineffectual，pitifullyconspicuous。Andallabouthim，theworldwas——strange。
　　CHAPTERVII
　　INTHESILENTROOMS
　　PresentlyGrahamresumedhisexaminationofhisapartments。Curiositykepthimmovinginspiteofhisfatigue。Theinnerroom，heperceived，washigh，anditsceilingdomeshaped’，withanoblongapertureinthecentre，openingintoafunnelinwhichawheelofbroadvansseemedtoberotating，apparentlydrivingtheairuptheshaft。Thefainthummingnoteofitseasymotionwastheonlyclearsoundinthatquietplace。Asthesevansspranguponeaftertheother，Grahamcouldgettransientglimpsesofthesky。Hewassurprisedtoseeastar。
　　Thisdrewhisattentiontothefactthatthebrightlightingoftheseroomswasduetoamultitudeofveryfaintglowlampssetaboutthecornices。Therewerenowindows。AndhebegantorecallthatalongallthevastchambersandpassageshehadtraversedwithHowardhehadobservednowindowsatall。Hadtherebeenwindows？Therewerewindowsonthestreetindeed，butweretheyforlight？Orwasthewholecitylitdayandnightforevermore，sothattherewasnonightthere？
　　Andanotherthingdawneduponhim。Therewasnofireplaceineitherroom。Wastheseasonsummer，andwerethesemerelysummerapartments，orwasthewholeCityuniformlyheatedorcooled？Hebecameinterestedinthesequestions，beganexaminingthesmoothtextureofthewalls，thesimplyconstructedbed，theingeniousarrangementsbywhichthelabourofbedroomservicewaspracticallyabolished。Andovereverythingwasacuriousabsenceofdeliberateornament，abaregraceofformandcolour，thathefoundverypleasingtotheeye。Therewereseveralverycomfortablechairs，alighttableonsilentrunnerscarryingseveralbottlesoffluidsandglasses，andtwoplatesbearingaclearsubstancelikejelly。Thenhenoticedtherewerenobooks，nonewspapers，nowritingmaterials。"Theworldhaschangedindeed，"hesaid。
　　HeobservedoneentiresideoftheouterroomwassetwithrowsofpeculiardoublecylindersinscribedwithgreenletteringonwhitethatharmonizedWiththedecorativeschemeoftheroom，andinthecentreofthissideprojectedalittleapparatusaboutayardsquareandhavingawhitesmoothfacetotheroom。A
　　chairfacedthis。Hehadatransitoryideathatthesecylindersmightbebooks，oramodernsubstituteforbooks，butatfirstitdidnotseemso。
　　Theletteringonthecylinderspuzzledhim。AtfirstsightitseemedlikeRussian。ThenhenoticedasuggestionofmutilatedEnglishaboutcertainofthewords。
　　"oiManhuwdbiKin"
　　forceditselfonhimas"TheManwhowouldbeKing。""Phoneticspelling，"hesaid。Herememberedreadingastorywiththattitle，thenherecalledthestoryvividly，oneofthebeststoriesintheworld。
　　Butthisthingbeforehimwasnotabookasheunderstoodit。Hepuzzledoutthetitlesoftwoadjacentcylinders。’TheHeartofDarkness，’hehadneverheardofbeforenor’TheMadonnaoftheFuture’——nodoubtiftheywereindeedstories，theywerebypostVictorianauthors。
　　Hepuzzledoverthispeculiarcylinderforsometimeandreplacedit。Thenheturnedtothesquareapparatusandexaminedthat。Heopenedasortoflidandfoundoneofthedoublecylinderswithin，andontheupperedgealittlestudlikethestudofanelectricbell。Hepressedthisandarapidclickingbeganandceased。Hebecameawareofvoicesandmusic，andnoticedaplayofcolouronthesmoothfrontface。Hesuddenlyrealisedwhatthismightbe，andsteppedbacktoregardit。
　　Ontheflatsurfacewasnowalittlepicture，veryvividlycoloured，andinthispicturewerefiguresthatmoved。Notonlydidtheymove，buttheywereconversinginclearsmallvoices。Itwasexactlylikerealityviewedthroughaninvertedoperaglassandheardthroughalongtube。Hisinterestwasseizedatoncebythesituation，whichpresentedamanpacingupanddownandvociferatingangrythingstoaprettybutpetulantwoman。BothwereinthepicturesquecostumethatseemedsostrangetoGraham。"Ihaveworked，"saidtheman，"butwhathaveyoubeendoing？"
　　"Ah！"saidGraham。Heforgoteverythingelse，andsatdowninthechair。Withinfiveminutesheheardhimselfnamed，heard"whentheSleeperwakes，"
　　usedjestinglyasaproverbforremotepostponement，andpassedhimselfby，athingremoteandincredible。
　　Butinalittlewhileheknewthosetwopeoplelikel。
　　intimatefriends。
　　Atlasttheminiaturedramacametoanend，andthesquarefaceoftheapparatuswasblankagain。
　　Itwasastrangeworldintowhichhehadbeenpermittedtosee，unscrupulous，pleasureseeking，energetic，subtle，aworldtooofdireeconomicstruggle；
　　therewereallusionshedidnotunderstand，incidentsthatconveyedstrangesuggestionsofalteredmoralideals，flashesofdubiousenlightenment。Thebluecanvasthatbulkedsolargelyinhisfirstimpressionofthecitywaysappearedagainandagainasthecostumeofthecommonpeople。Hehadnodoubtthestorywascontemporary，anditsintenserealismwasundeniable。Andtheendhadbeenatragedythatoppressedhim。Hesatstaringattheblankness。
　　Hestartedandrubbedhiseyes。Hehadbeensoabsorbedinthelatter—daysubstituteforanovel，thatheawoketothelittlegreenandwhiteroomwithmorethanatouchofthesurpriseofhisfirstawakening。
　　Hestoodup，andabruptlyhewasbackinhisownwonderland。Theclearnessofthekinetoscopedramapassed，andthestruggleinthevastplaceofstreets，theambiguousCouncil，theswiftphasesofhiswakinghour，cameback。ThesepeoplehadspokenoftheCouncilwithsuggestionsofavagueuniversalityofpower。AndtheyhadspokenoftheSleeper；ithadnotreallystruckhimvividlyatthetimethathewastheSleeper。Hehadtorecallpreciselywhattheyhadsaid。
　　Hewalkedintothebedroomandpeeredupthroughthequickintervalsoftherevolvingfan。Asthefansweptround，adimturmoillikethenoiseofmachinerycameinrhythmiceddies。Allelsewassilence。
　　Thoughtheperpetualdaystillirradiatedhisapartments，heperceivedthelittleintermittentstripofskywasnowdeepblue——blackalmost，withadustoflittlestars。
　　Heresumedhisexaminationoftherooms。Hecouldfindnowayofopeningthepaddeddoor，nobellnorothermeansofcallingforattendance。Hisfeelingofwonderwasinabeyance；buthewascurious，anxiousforinformation。Hewantedtoknowexactlyhowhestoodtothesenewthings。Hetriedtocomposehimselftowaituntilsomeonecametohim。
　　Presentlyhebecamerestlessandeagerforinformation，fordistraction，forfreshsensations。
　　Hewentbacktotheapparatusintheotherroom，andhadsoonpuzzledoutthemethodofreplacingthecylindersbyothers。Ashedidso，itcameintohismindthatitmustbetheselittleapplianceshadfixedthelanguagesothatitwasstillclearandunderstand—
　　ableaftertwohundredyears。Thehaphazardcylindershesubstituteddisplayedamusicalfantasia。Atfirstitwasbeautiful，andthenitwassensuous。HepresentlyrecognizedwhatappearedtohimtobeanalteredversionofthestoryofTannhauser。Themusicwasunfamiliar。Buttherenderingwasrealistic，andwithacontemporaryunfamiliarity。TannhauserdidnotgotoaVenusberg，buttoaPleasureCity。WhatwasaPleasureCity？Adream，surely，thefancyofafantastic，voluptuouswriter。
　　Hebecameinterested，curious。Thestorydevelopedwithaflavourofstrangelytwistedsentimentality。
　　Suddenlyhedidnotlikeit。Helikeditlessasitproceeded。
　　Hehadarevulsionoffeeling。Thesewerenopictures，noidealisations，butphotographedrealities。Hewantednomoreofthetwenty—secondcenturyVenusberg。
　　Heforgotthepartplayedbythemodelinnineteenthcenturyart，andgavewaytoanarchaicindignation。Herose，angryandhalfashamedathimselfforwitnessingthisthingeveninsolitude。Hepulledforwardtheapparatus，andwithsomeviolencesoughtforameansofstoppingitsaction。Somethingsnapped。Avioletsparkstungandconvulsedhisarmandthethingwasstill。WhenheattemptednextdaytoreplacetheseTannhausercylindersbyanotherpair，hefoundtheapparatusbroken