METROPOLIS "Yes," came the voice of the other. idly, sleepily, out of the darkness. "But wait a hit, friend..•• I must ask you something... :' "Well?" "Have you forgotten your own creed?" For one second a lamp twinkled through the room, that was shaped like a pointed devil's ear, impaling the face of the man, who had already turned to go, on the pointed needle of its brilliance. "That sin and suffering are twin-sisters.••. you will be sinning against two people, friend... :'
"What has that to do with you?"
- Nothin~. ..
<?,r-little. Freder is Hers son..• :" Andmme....
"Yes..... "It is he whom I do not wish to lose" "Better to sin once more?" "Yes,"
"And-" "To suffer. Yes:' "Very well, friend," and in the voice was an inaudible laugh of mockery: "May it happen to you according to your
creed.... '" The girl walked through the passages that were so familiar to her. The bright little lamp in her hand roved over the roof of stone and over the stone walls. where. in niches, the thousand-year-old dead slept. The girl had never known fear of the dead; only reverence and gravity in face of their gravity. To-day she saw neither wall nor dead. She walked on, smiling and not knowing she did it. She felt like singing. With an expression of happiness, which was still incredulous and yet complete, she said the name of her beloved over to herself. Quite softly: "Freder...." And once more: uFreder... ," Then she raised her head, listening attentively, standing quite still.... It came back as a whisper: An echo?-No. Almost inaudibly a word was breathed: 71
