ThesongroareduptoGrahamnow，nolongerupbornebymusic，butcoarseandnoisy，andthebeatingofthemarchingfeet，tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp，interwovewithathunderousirregularityoffootstepsfromtheundisciplinedrabblethatpouredalongthehigherways。
Abruptlyhenotedacontrast。Thebuildingsontheoppositesideofthewayseemeddeserted，thecablesandbridgesthatlacedacrosstheaislewereemptyandshadowy。ItcameintoGraham’smindthatthesealsoshouldhaveswarmedwithpeople。
Hefeltacuriousemotion——throbbing——veryfast！
Hestoppedagain。Theguardsbeforehimmarchedon；thoseabouthimstoppedashedid。Hesawthedirectionoftheirfaces。Thethrobbinghadsomethingtodowiththelights。Hetoolookedup。
Atfirstitseemedtohimathingthataffectedthelightssimply，anisolatedphenomenon，havingnobearingonthethingsbelow。Eachhugeglobeofblindingwhitenesswasasitwereclutched，compressedinasystolethatwasfollowedbyatransitorydiastole，andagainasystolelikeatighteninggrip，darkness，light，darkness，inrapidalternation。
Grahambecameawarethatthisstrangebehaviourofthelightshadtodowiththepeoplebelow。Theappearanceofthehousesandways，theappearanceofthepackedmasseschanged，becameaconfusionofvividlightsandleapingshadows。Hesawamultitudeofshadowshadsprungintoaggressiveexistence，seemedrushingup，broadening，widening，growingwithsteadyswiftness——toleapsuddenlybackandreturnreinforced。Thesongandthetrampinghadceased。Theunanimousmarch，hediscovered，wasarrested，therewereeddies，aflowsideways，shoutsof\"Thelights！\"Voiceswerecryingtogetheronething。\"Thelights！\"criedthesevoices。\"Thelights！\"Helookeddown。Inthisdancingdeathofthelightstheareaofthestreethadsuddenlybecomeamonstrousstruggle。Thehugewhiteglobesbecamepurple—white，purplewithareddishglow，flickered，flickeredfasterandfaster，flutteredbetweenlightandextinction，ceasedtoflickerandbecamemerefadingspecksofglowingredinavastobscurity。Intensecondstheextinctionwasaccomplished，andtherewasonlythisroaringdarkness，ablackmonstrositythathadsuddenlyswallowedupthoseglitteringmyriadsofmen。
Hefeltinvisibleformsabouthim；hisarmsweregripped。Somethingrappedsharplyagainsthisshin。
Avoicebawledinhisear，\"Itisallright——allright。\"
Grahamshookofftheparalysisofhisfirstastonishment。
HestruckhisforeheadagainstLincoln’sandbawled，\"Whatisthisdarkness？\"
\"TheCouncilhascutthecurrentsthatlightthecity。Wemustwait——stop。Thepeoplewillgoon。
Theywill——\"
Hisvoicewasdrowned。Voiceswereshouting，\"SavetheSleeper。TakecareoftheSleeper。\"A
guardstumbledagainstGrahamandhurthishandbyaninadvertentblowofhisweapon。Awildtumulttossedandwhirledabouthim，growing，asitseemed，louder，denser，morefuriouseachmoment。Fragmentsofrecognisablesoundsdrovetowardshim，werewhirledawayfromhimashismindreachedouttograspthem。Voicesseemedtobeshoutingconflictingorders，othervoicesanswered。Thereweresuddenlyasuccessionofpiercingscreamsclosebeneaththem。
Avoicebawledinhisear，\"Theredpolice，\"andrecededforthwithbeyondhisquestions。
Acracklingsoundgrewtodistinctness，andtherewithaleapingoffaintflashesalongtheedgeofthefurtherways。BytheirlightGrahamsawtheheadsandbodiesofanumberofmen，armedwithweaponslikethoseofhisguards，leapintoaninstant’sdimvisibility。Thewholeareabegantocrackle，toflashwithlittleinstantaneousstreaksoflight，andabruptlythedarknessrolledbacklikeacurtain。
Aglareoflightdazzledhiseyes，avastseethingexpanseofstrugglingmenconfusedhismind。A
shout，aburstofcheering，cameacrosstheways。Helookeduptoseethesourceofthelight。Amanhungfaroverheadfromtheupperpartofacable，holdingbyaropetheblindingstarthathaddriventhedarknessback。Heworeareduniform。
Graham’seyesfelltothewaysagain。Awedgeofredalittlewayalongthevistacaughthiseye。Hesawitwasadensemassofred—cladmenjammedthehigherfurtherway，theirbacksagainstthepitilesscliffofbuilding，andsurroundedbyadensecrowdofantagonists。Theywerefighting。Weaponsflashedandroseandfell，headsvanishedattheedgeofthecontest，andotherheadsreplacedthem，thelittleflashesfromthegreenweaponsbecamelittlejetsofsmokygreywhilethelightlasted。
Abruptlytheflarewasextinguishedandthewayswereaninkydarknessoncemore，atumultuousmystery。
Hefeltsomethingthrustingagainsthim。Hewasbeingpushedalongthegallery。Someonewasshouting——itmightbeathim。Hewastooconfusedtohear。Hewasthrustagainstthewall，andanumberofpeopleblunderedpasthim。Itseemedtohimthathisguardswerestrugglingwithoneanother。
Suddenlythecable—hungstar—holderappearedagain，andthewholescenewaswhiteanddazzling。Thebandofred—coatsseemedbroaderandnearer；itsapexwashalf—waydownthewaystowardsthecentralaisle。
AndraisinghiseyesGrahamsawthatanumberofthesemenhadalsoappearednowinthedarkenedlowergalleriesoftheoppositebuilding，andwerefiringovertheheadsoftheirfellowsbelowattheboilingconfusionofpeopleonthelowerways。Themeaningofthesethingsdawneduponhim。Themarchofthepeoplehadcomeuponanambushattheveryoutset。
Thrownintoconfusionbytheextinctionofthelightstheywerenowbeingattackedbytheredpolice。Thenhebecameawarethathewasstandingalone，thathisguardsandLincolnwerealongthegalleryinthedirectionalongwhichhehadcomebeforethedarknessfell。Hesawtheyweregesticulatingtohimwildly，runningbacktowardshim。Agreatshoutingcamefromacrosstheways。Thenitseemedasthoughthewholefaceofthedarkenedbuildingoppositewaslinedandspeckledwithred—cladmen。Andtheywerepointingovertohimandshouting。\"TheSleeper！SavetheSleeper！\"shoutedamultitudeofthroats。
Somethingstruckthewallabovehishead。Helookedupattheimpactandsawastar—shapedsplashofsilverymetal。HesawLincolnnearhim。Felthisarmgripped。Then，pat，pat；hehadbeenmissedtwice。
Foramomenthedidnotunderstandthis。Thestreetwashidden，everythingwashidden，ashelooked。
Thesecondflarehadburnedout。
LincolnhadgrippedGrahambythearm，waslugginghimalongthegallery。\"Beforethenextlight！\"hecried。Hishastewascontagious。
Graham’sinstinctofself—preservationovercametheparalysisofhisincredulousastonishment。Hebecameforatimetheblindcreatureofthefearofdeath。Heran，stumblingbecauseoftheuncertaintyofthedarkness，blunderedintohisguardsastheyturnedtorunwithhim。Hastewashisonedesire，toescapethisperilousgalleryuponwhichhewasexposed。Athirdglarecamecloseonitspredecessors。Withitcameagreatshoutingacrosstheways，anansweringtumultfromtheways。Thered—coatsbelow，hesaw，hadnowalmostgainedthecentralpassage。Theircountlessfacesturnedtowardshim，andtheyshouted。Thewhitefacadeoppositewasdenselystippledwithred。
Allthesewonderfulthingsconcernedhim，turneduponhimasapivot。TheseweretheguardsoftheCouncilattemptingtorecapturehim。
Luckyitwasforhimthattheseshotswerethefirstfiredinangerforahundredandfiftyyears。Heheardbulletswhackingoverhishead，feltasplashofmoltenmetalstinghisear，andperceivedwithoutlookingthatthewholeoppositefacade，anunmaskedambuscadeofredpolice，wascrowdedandbawlingandfiringathim。
Downwentoneofhisguardsbeforehim，andGraham，unabletostop，leaptthewrithingbody。
Inanothersecondhehadplunged，unhurt，intoablackpassage，andincontinentlysomeone，coming，itmaybe，inatransversedirection，blunderedviolentlyintohim。Hewashurlingdownastaircaseinabsolutedarkness。Hereeled，andwasstruckagain，andcameagainstawallwithhishands。Hewascrushedbyaweightofstrugglingbodies，whirledround，andthrusttotheright。Avastpressurepinnedhim。Hecouldnotbreathe，hisribsseemedcracking。Hefeltamomentaryrelaxation，andthenthewholemassofpeoplemovingtogether，borehimbacktowardsthegreattheatrefromwhichhehadsorecentlycome。
Thereweremomentswhenhisfeetdidnottouchtheground。Thenhewasstaggeringandshoving。Heheardshoutsof\"Theyarecoming！\"andamuffledcryclosetohim。Hisfootblunderedagainstsomethingsoft，heheardahoarsescreamunderfoot。Heheardshoutsof\"TheSleeper！\"buthewastooconfusedtospeak。Heheardthegreenweaponscrackling。Foraspacehelosthisindividualwill，becameanatominapanic，blind，unthinking，mechanical。
Hethrustandpressedbackandwrithedinthepressure，kickedpresentlyagainstastep，andfoundhimselfascendingaslope。Andabruptlythefacesallabouthimleaptoutoftheblack，visible，ghastly—whiteandastonished，terrified，perspiring，inalividglare。
Oneface，ayoungman’s，wasveryneartohim，nottwentyinchesaway。Atthetimeitwasbutapassingincidentofnoemotionalvalue，butafterwardsitcamebacktohiminhisdreams。Forthisyoungman，wedgeduprightinthecrowdforatime，hadbeenshotandwasalreadydead。
Afourthwhitestarmusthavebeenlitbythemanonthecable。ItslightcameglaringinthroughvastwindowsandarchesandshowedGrahamthathewasnowoneofadensemassofflyingblackfigurespressedbackacrossthelowerareaofthegreattheatre。Thistimethepicturewaslividandfragmentaryslashedandbarredwithblackshadows。Hesawthatquiteneartohimtheredguardswerefightingtheirwaythroughthepeople。Hecouldnottellwhethertheysawhim。HelookedforLincolnandhisguards。HesawLincolnnearthestageofthetheatresurroundedinacrowdofblack—badgedrevolutionaries，liftedupandstaringtoandfroasifseekinghim。Grahamperceivedthathehimselfwasneartheoppositeedgeofthecrowd，thatbehindhim，separatedbyabarrier，slopedthenowvacantseatsofthetheatre。Asuddenideacametohim，andhebeganfightinghiswaytowardsthebarrier。Ashereachedittheglarecametoanend。
Inamomenthehadthrownoffthegreatcloakthatnotonlyimpededhismovementsbutmadehimconspicuous，andhadslippeditfromhisshoulders。Heheardsomeonetripinitsfolds。Inanotherhewasscalingthebarrierandhaddroppedintotheblacknessonthefurtherside。Thenfeelinghiswayhecametothelowerendofanascendinggangway。Inthedarknessthesoundoffiringceasedandtheroaroffeetandvoiceslulled。Thensuddenlyhecametoanunexpectedstepandtrippedandfell。Ashedidsopoolsandislandsamidstthedarknessabouthimleapttovividlightagain，theuproarsurgedlouderandtheglareofthefifthwhitestarshonethroughthevastfenestrationsofthetheatrewalls。
Herolledoveramongsomeseats，heardashoutingandthewhirringrattleofweapons，struggledupandwasknockedbackagain，perceivedthatanumberofblack—badgedmenwereallabouthimfiringattherebelsbelow，leapingfromseattoseat，crouchingamongtheseatstoreload。Instinctivelyhecrouchedamidsttheseats，asstrayshotsrippedthepneumaticcushionsandcutbrightslashesontheirsoftmetalframes。
Instinctivelyhemarkedthedirectionofthegangways，themostplausiblewayofescapeforhimsosoonastheveilofdarknessfellagain。
Ayoungmaninfadedbluegarmentscamevaultingovertheseats。\"Hullo！\"hesaid，withhisflyingfeetwithinsixinchesofthecrouchingSleeper’sface。
Hestaredwithoutanysignofrecognition，turnedtofire，fired，and，shouting，\"TohellwiththeCouncil！\"
wasabouttofireagain。ThenitseemedtoGrahamthatthehalfofthisman’sneckhadvanished。A
dropofmoisturefellonGraham’scheek。Thegreenweaponstoppedhalfraised。Foramomentthemanstoodstillwithhisfacesuddenlyexpressionless，thenhebegantoslantforward。Hiskneesbent。Mananddarknessfelltogether。AtthesoundofhisfallGrahamroseupandranforhislifeuntilastepdowntothegangwaytrippedhim。Hescrambledtohisfeet，turnedupthegangwayandranon。
Whenthesixthstarglaredhewasalreadyclosetotheyawningthroatofapassage。Heranontheswifterforthelight，enteredthepassageandturnedacornerintoabsolutenightagain。Hewasknockedsideways，rolledover，andrecoveredhisfeet。Hefoundhimselfoneofacrowdofinvisiblefugitivespressinginonedirection。Hisonethoughtnowwastheirthoughtalso；toescapeoutofthisfighting。Hethrustandstruck，staggered，ran，waswedgedtightly，lostgroundandthenwasclearagain。
Forsomeminuteshewasrunningthroughthedarknessalongawindingpassage，andthenhecrossedsomewideandopenspace，passeddownalongincline，andcameatlastdownaflightofstepstoalevelplace。
Manypeoplewereshouting，\"Theyarecoming！Theguardsarecoming。Theyarefiring。Getoutofthefighting。Theguardsarefiring。ItwillbesafeinSeventhWay。AlongheretoSeventhWay！\"Therewerewomenandchildreninthecrowdaswellasmen。
Mencallednamestohim。Thecrowdconvergedonanarchway，passedthroughashortthroatandemergedonawiderspaceagain，litdimly。Theblackfiguresabouthimspreadoutandranupwhatseemedinthetwilighttobeagiganticseriesofsteps。Hefollowed。Thepeopledispersedtotherightandleft……Heperceivedthathewasnolongerinacrowd。Hestoppednearthehigheststep。Beforehim，onthatlevel，weregroupsofseatsandalittlekiosk。Hewentuptothisand，stoppingintheshadowofitseaves，lookedabouthimpanting。
Everythingwasvagueandgray，butherecognisedthatthesegreatstepswereaseriesofplatformsofthe\"ways，\"nowmotionlessagain。Theplatformslanteduponeitherside，andthetallbuildingsrosebeyond，vastdimghosts，theirinscriptionsandadvertisementsindistinctlyseen，andupthroughthegirdersandcableswasafaintinterruptedribbonofpallidsky。A
numberofpeoplehurriedby。Fromtheirshoutsandvoices，itseemedtheywerehurryingtojointhefighting。Otherlessnoisyfiguresflittedtimidlyamongtheshadows。
Fromveryfarawaydownthestreethecouldhearthesoundofastruggle。Butitwasevidenttohimthatthiswasnotthestreetintowhichthetheatreopened。Thatformerfight，itseemed，hadsuddenlydroppedoutofsoundandhearing。And——grotesquethought！——theywerefightingforhim！
Foraspacehewaslikeamanwhopausesinthereadingofavividbook，andsuddenlydoubtswhathehasbeentakingunquestioningly。Atthattimehehadlittlemindfordetails；thewholeeffectwasahugeastonishment。Oddlyenough，whiletheflightfromtheCouncilprison，thegreatcrowdinthehall，andtheattackoftheredpoliceupontheswarmingpeoplewereclearlypresentinhismind，itcosthimanefforttopieceinhisawakeningandtorevivethemeditativeintervaloftheSilentRooms。AtfirsthismemoryleaptthesethingsandtookhimbacktothecascadeatPentargenquiveringinthewind，andallthesombresplendoursofthesunlitCornishcoast。Thecontrasttouchedeverythingwithunreality。Andthenthegapfilled，andhebegantocomprehendhisposition。
Itwasnolongerabsolutelyariddle，asithadbeenintheSilentRooms。Atleasthehadthestrange，bareoutlinenow。Hewasinsomewaytheownerofhalftheworld，andgreatpoliticalpartieswerefightingtopossesshim。OntheonehandwastheWhiteCouncil，withitsredpolice，setresolutely，itseemed，ontheusurpationofhispropertyandperhapshismurder；ontheother，therevolutionthathadliberatedhim，withthisunseen\"Ostrog\"asitsleader。Andthewholeofthisgiganticcitywasconvulsedbytheirstruggle。
Franticdevelopmentofhisworld！\"Idonotunder—
stand，\"hecried。\"Idonotunderstand！\"
Hehadslippedoutbetweenthecontendingpartiesintothislibertyofthetwilight。Whatwouldhappennext？Whatwashappening？Hefiguredtheredcladmenasbusilyhuntinghim，drivingtheblackbadgedrevolutionistsbeforethem。
Atanyratechancehadgivenhimabreathingspace。
Hecouldlurkunchallengedbythepassers—by，andwatchthecourseofthings。Hiseyefolloweduptheintricatedimimmensityofthetwilightbuildings，anditcametohimasathinginfinitelywonderful，thatabovetherethesunwasrising，andtheworldwaslitandglowingwiththeoldfamiliarlightofday。Inalittlewhilehehadrecoveredhisbreath。Hisclothinghadalreadydrieduponhimfromthesnow。
Hewanderedformilesalongthesetwilightways，speakingtonoone，accostedbynoone——adarkfigureamongdarkfigures——thecovetedmanoutofthepast，theinestimableunintentionalownerofhalftheworld。Wherevertherewerelightsordensecrowds，orexceptionalexcitementhewasafraidofrecognition，andwatchedandturnedbackorwentupanddownbythemiddlestairways，intosometransversesystemofwaysatalowerorhigherlevel。Andthoughhecameonnomorefighting，thewholecitystirredwithbattle。Oncehehadtoruntoavoidamarchingmultitudeofmenthatsweptthestreet。
Everyoneabroadseemedinvolved。Forthemostparttheyweremen，andtheycarriedwhathejudgedwereweapons。Itseemedasthoughthestrugglewasconcentratedmainlyinthequarterofthecityfromwhichhecame。Everandagainadistantroaring，theremotesuggestionofthatconflict，reachedhisears。Thenhiscautionandhiscuriositystruggledtogether。Buthiscautionprevailed，andhecontinuedwanderingawayfromthefighting——sofarashecouldjudge。Hewentunmolested，unsuspectedthroughthedark。
Afteratimeheceasedtohearevenaremoteechoofthebattle，fewerandfewerpeoplepassedhim，untilatlasttheTitanicstreetsbecamedeserted。Thefrontgesofthebuildingsgrewplainandharsh；heseemedtohavecometoadistrictofvacantwarehouses。
Solitudecreptuponhim——hispaceslackened。
Hebecameawareofagrowingfatigue。Attimeshewouldturnasideandseathimselfononeofthenumerousseatsoftheupperways。Butafeverishrestlessness，theknowledgeofhisvitalimplicationinhisstruggle，wouldnotlethimrestinanyplaceforlong。Wasthestruggleonhisbehalfalone？
Andtheninadesolateplacecametheshockofanearthquake——aroaringandthundering——amightywindofcoldairpouringthroughthecity，thesmashofglass，theslipandthudoffallingmasonry——asieriesofgiganticconcussions。Amassofglassandironworkfellfromtheremoteroofsintothemiddlegallery，notahundredyardsawayfromhim，andinthedistancewereshoutsandrunning。He，too，wasstartledtoanaimlessactivity，andranfirstonewayandthenasaimlesslyback。
Amancamerunningtowardshim。Hisself—controlreturned。\"Whathavetheyblownup？\"askedthemanbreathlessly。\"Thatwasanexplosion，\"andbeforeGrahamcouldspeakhehadhurriedon。
Thegreatbuildingsrosedimly，veiledbyaperplexingtwilight，albeittherivuletofskyabovewasnowbrightwithday。Henotedmanystrangefeatures，understandingnoneatthetime；heevenspeltoutmanyoftheinscriptionsinPhoneticlettering。Butwhatprofitsittodecipheraconfusionofodd—lookinglettersresolvingitself，afterpainfulstrainofeyeandmind，into\"HereisEadhamite，\"or，\"LabourBureau——
LittleSide？\"Grotesquethought，thatinallprobabilitysomeorallofthesecliff—likehouseswerehis！
Theperversityofhisexperiencecametohimvividly。
Inactualfacthehadmadesuchaleapintimeasromancershaveimaginedagainandagain。Andthatfactrealised，hehadbeenprepared，hismindhad，asitwere，seateditselfforaspectacle。Andnospectacle，butagreatvaguedanger，unsympatheticshadowsandveilsofdarkness。Somewherethroughthelabyrinthineobscurityhisdeathsoughthim。
Wouldhe，afterall，bekilledbeforehesaw？Itmightbethatevenatthenextshadowycornerhisdestructionambushed。Agreatdesiretosee，agreatlongingtoknow，aroseinhim。
Hebecamefearfulofcorners。Itseemedtohimthattherewassafetyinconcealment。Wherecouldhehidetobeinconspicuouswhenthelightsreturned？
Atlasthesatdownuponaseatinarecessononeofthehigherways，conceivinghewasalonethere。
Hesqueezedhisknucklesintohiswearyeyes。
Supposewhenhelookedagainhefoundthedarkthroughofparallelwaysandthatintolerablealtitudeofedifice，gone？Supposeheweretodiscoverthewholestoryoftheselastfewdays，theawakening，theshoutingmultitudes，thedarknessandthefighting，aphantasmagoria，anewandmorevividsortofdream。Itmustbeadream；itwassoinconsecutive，soreasonless。Whywerethepeoplefightingforhim？WhyshouldthissanerworldregardhimasOwnerandMaster？
Sohethought，sittingblinded，andthenhelookedagain，halfhopinginspiteofhisearstoseesomefamiliaraspectofthelifeofthenineteenthcentury，tosee，perhaps，thelittleharbourofBoscastleabouthim，thecliffsofPentargen，orthebedroomofhishome。
Butfacttakesnoheedofhumanhopes。Asquadofmenwithablackbannertrampedathwartthenearershadows，intentonconflict，andbeyondrosethatgiddywalloffrontage，vastanddark，withthedimincomprehensibleletteringshowingfaintlyonitsface。
\"Itisnodream，\"hesaid，\"nodream。\"Andhebowedhisfaceuponhishands。
CHAPTERXI
THEOLDMANWHOKNEWEVERYTHING
Hewasstartledbyacoughcloseathand。
Heturnedsharply，andpeering，sawasmall，hunched—upfiguresittingacoupleofyardsoffintheshadowoftheenclosure。
\"Haveyeanynews？\"askedthehigh—pitchedwheezyvoiceofaveryoldman。
Grahamhesitated。\"None，\"hesaid。
\"Istayheretillthelightscomeagain，\"saidtheoldman。\"Thesebluescoundrelsareeverywhere——
everywhere。\"
Graham’sanswerwasinarticulateassent。Hetriedtoseetheoldmanbutthedarknesshidhisface。Hewantedverymuchtorespond，totalk，buthedidnotknowhowtobegin。
\"Darkanddamnable，\"saidtheoldmansuddenly。
\"Darkanddamnable。Turnedoutofmyroomamongallthesedangers。\"
\"That’shard，\"venturedGraham。\"That’shardonyou。\"
\"Darkness。Anoldmanlostinthedarkness。Andalltheworldgonemad。Warandfighting。Thepolicebeatenandroguesabroad。Whydon’ttheybringsomenegroestoprotectus？……Nomoredarkpassagesforme。Ifelloveradeadman。\"
\"You’resaferwithcompany，\"saidtheoldman，\"ifit’scompanyoftherightsort，\"andpeeredfrankly。
HerosesuddenlyandcametowardsGraham。
Apparentlythescrutinywassatisfactoy。Theoldmansatdownasifrelievedtobenolongeralone。
\"Eh！\"hesaid，\"butthisisaterribletime！Warandfighting，andthedeadIyingthere——men，strongmen，dyinginthedark。Sons！Ihavethreesons。Godknowswheretheyaretonight。\"
Thevoiceceased。Thenrepeatedquavering：\"Godknowswheretheyaretonight。\"
Grahamstoodrevolvingaquestionthatshouldnotbetrayhisignorance。Againtheoldman’svoiceendedthepause。
\"ThisOstrogwillwin，\"hesaid。\"Hewillwin。Andwhattheworldwillbelikeunderhimnoonecantell。Mysonsareunderthewind—vanes，allthree。
Oneofmydaughters—in—lawwashismistressforawhile。Hismistress！Werenotcommonpeople。
Thoughthey’vesentmetowandertonightandtakemychance……Iknewwhatwasgoingon。Beforemostpeople。Butthisdarkness！Andtofalloveradeadbodysuddenlyinthedark！\"
Hiswheezybreathingcouldbeheard。
\"Ostrog！\"saidGraham。
\"ThegreatestBosstheworldhaseverseen，\"saidthevoice。
Grahamransackedhismind。\"TheCouncilhasfewfriendsamongthepeople，\"hehazarded。
\"Fewfriends。Andpooronesatthat。They’vehadtheirtime。Eh！Theyshouldhavekepttothecleverones。Buttwicetheyheldelection。AndOstrog。Andnowithasburstoutandnothingcanstayit，nothingcanstayit。TwicetheyrejectedOstrog——OstrogtheBoss。Iheardofhisragesatthetime——hewasterrible。Heavensavethem！Fornothingonearthcannow，hehasraisedtheLabourCompaniesuponthem。Nooneelsewouldhavedared。Allthebluecanvasarmedandmarching！Hewillgothroughwithit。Hewillgothrough。\"
Hewassilentforalittlewhile。\"ThisSleeper，\"hesaid，andstopped。
\"Yes，\"saidGraham。\"Well？\"
Thesenilevoicesanktoaconfidentialwhisper，thedim，palefacecameclose。\"TherealSleeper——\"
\"Yes，\"saidGraham。
\"Diedyearsago。\"
\"What？\"saidGraham，sharply。
\"Yearsago。Died。Yearsago。\"
\"Youdon’tsayso！\"saidGraham。
\"Ido。Idosayso。Hedied。ThisSleeperwho’swokeup——theychangedinthenight。Apoor，druggedinsensiblecreature。ButImustn’ttellallI
know。Imustn’ttellallIknow。\"
Foralittlewhilehemutteredinaudibly。Hissecretwastoomuchforhim。\"Idon’tknowtheonesthatputhimtosleep——thatwasbeforemytime——butI
knowthemanwhoinjectedthestimulantsandwokehimagain。Itwastentoone——wakeorkill。Wakeorkill。Ostrog’sway。\"
Grahamwassoastonishedatthesethingsthathehadtointerrupt，tomaketheoldmanrepeathiswords，tore—questionvaguely，beforehewassureofthemeaningandfollyofwhatheheard。Andhisawakeninghadnotbeennatural！Wasthatanoldman’ssenilesuperstition，too，orhaditanytruthinit？
Feelinginthedarkcornersofhismemory，hepresentlycameonsomethingthatmightconceivablybeanimpressionofsomesuchstimulatingeffect。Itdawneduponhimthathehadhappeneduponaluckyencounter，thatatlasthemightlearnsomethingofthenewage。Theoldmanwheezedawhileandspat，andthenthepiping，reminiscentvoiceresumed：
\"Thefirsttimetheyrejectedhim。I’vefolloweditall。\"
\"Rejectedwhom？\"saidGraham。\"TheSleeper？\"
\"Sleeper？No。Ostrog。Hewasterrible——terrible！
Andhewaspromisedthen，promisedcertainlythenexttime。Foolstheywere——nottobemoreafraidofhim。Nowallthecity’shismillstone，andsuchaswedustgrounduponit。Dustgrounduponit。Untilhesettowork——theworkerscuteachother’sthroats，andmurderedaChinamanoraLabourpolicemanattimes，andlefttherestofusinpeace。Deadbodies！Robbing！Darkness！Suchathinghasn’tbeenthisgrossofyears。Eh！——but’tisillonsmallfolkswhenthegreatfallout！It’sill。\"
\"Didyousay——therehadnotbeenwhat？——foragrossofyears？\"
\"Eh？\"saidtheoldman。
Theoldmansaidsomethingaboutclippinghiswords，andmadehimrepeatthisathirdtime。\"Fightingandslaying，andweaponsinhand，andfoolsbawlingfreedomandthelike，\"saidtheoldman。\"Notinallmylifehastherebeenthat。Theseareliketheolddays——forsure——whentheParispeoplebrokeout——
threegrossofyearsago。That’swhatImeanhasn’tbeen。Butit’stheworld’sway。Ithadtocomeback。
Iknow。Iknow。ThisfiveyearsOstroghasbeenworking，andtherehasbeentroubleandtrouble，andhungerandthreatsandhightalkandarms。Bluecanvasandmurmurs。Noonesafe。Everythingslidingandslipping。Andnowhereweare！Revoltandfighting，andtheCouncilcometoitsend。\"
\"Youareratherwell—informedonthesethings，\"
saidGraham。
\"IknowwhatIhear。Itisn’tallBabbleMachinewithme。\"
\"No，\"saidGraham，wonderingwhatBabbleMachinemightbe。\"AndyouarecertainthisOstrog——youarecertainOstrogorganisedthisrebellionandarrangedforthewakingoftheSleeper？Justtoasserthimself——becausehewasnotelectedtotheCouncil？