METROPOLIS that makes you to sin. Believe me: One will come, who will speak for you-who will be the mediator between you, the Hands, and the man whose Brain and Will are over you all. He will give you something which is more precious than anything which anybody could give you: To be free, without sinning,"
She stood up from the stone upou which she had been sitting. A movement Ian through the heads turned towards her. A voice was raised. The speaker was not to be seen. It
was as if they all spoke: , "We shall wait, Maria. But not much longer-I"" The girl was silent. With her sad eyes she seemed to be seeking the speaker among the crowd. A man who stood before her spoke up to her:
"And if we -fight-where will you be then?" . "With youl" said the girl, opening her hands with the gesture of one sacrificing. "Have you ever found me faithless?"
"Neverl" said the men. "You are like gold to us. We shall do what you expect of us.... "Thank you," said the girl. closing her eyes. With bowed head she stood there. listening to the sound of retiring feetfeet which walked in hard shoes. Only when all about her had become silent and when the last footfall had died away she sighed and opened her eyes. Then jihe saw a man, wearing the blue linen and the black cap and the hard shoes, kneeling at her feet. She bent down. He raised his head. She looked at him. And then she recognised him. (Behind them, in a vault that was shaped like a pointed devil's-ear,
ODe
man's hand seized another man"s ann.
"HushI Keep quiet'" wh.ispered the voice, which was soundless and yet which had the effect of laughter-like the laughter of spiteful mockery.)
The girl's face was as a crystal, filled with snow. She made a movement as if for flight. But her knees would not obey her. Reeds which stand in troubled water do not tremble more than her shoulders trembled.
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