Page:Heinrich Karl Schmitt - The Hungarian Revolution - tr. Matthew Phipps Shiel (1918).djvu/19

 came up, flags were visible, soldiers appeared, and there was much passionate shouting.

Later on came Kàrolyi, who was received with indescribable cheering, and spoke some words from the balcony.

And then arose the first impulse. Within the frame of the club-window bobbed up suddenly the helmeted silhouette of a constable. At first one knew not what to make of it. I had the impression that it was a puppet. But I soon saw my mistake, for, though men often speak like puppets, this puppet on the contrary spoke so clear and manlike, that he was keenly listened to. The constable spoke as a man of the people to the people. In some seconds jubilation was resounding over the place. A constable who was about, and yet arrested nobody, accosted nobody with blows and roughnessthe crowd was enchanted. The police, then, were on their sidewas that really possible?

(I hurried up into the party headquarters. It can be said now, easily enough, that the constable was hissed—words only, for I cannot doubt my own senses. But at present he still seems to me rather like a puppet which was exposed in the shop-window—even if by its own wish.)

Above in the [Socialist] party headquarters I heard that a company of soldiers were waiting at the East Railway Station, ready to be taken to the front(Heavens! "company," "front," "taken"are there such things? Have I not perhaps read about something of the kind, so far back it all lies!). It was said that precautions had been taken to prevent the company being carried away to the front. Movement below, in the street, movement above, in the headthe thing began to harmonise.

Thick throngs went away, in order to co-operate at the railway station. Meantime, fresh and still fresh throngs arrived. Quite to the Deàkplatz thronged the mass. Songs were sungand all at once broke out a mighty roar, the Marseillaisethe Internationale in the Hungarian words.

Then began the whirl of rumours. It was bruited by soldiers who arrived that the company under marching-orders had been already set free. Many said that its soldiers had been already seen