Page:Thea von Harbou Metropolis eng 1927.pdf/46

 METROPOLIS Never was the expression of deliverance at last more strong upon a human face than upon Hers face when she knew that she would die. But in the same hour the mightiest man in Metropolis had lain on the Hoor. screaming like a wild beast, the bones of which are being broken in its living body. And, on his meeting Rotwang, four weeks later, he found that the deuse, disordered hair over the· wonderful brow of the inventor was snow~white, and in the eyes under this brow the smouldering of a hatred which was very closely related to madness. In this great love, in this great hatred, the poor, dead Hel had remained alive to both men .... "You must wait a little while," said the voic~ which sounded as though the house were talking in its s'1eep. "Listen, Rotwang," said Joh Fredersen. "You know that I treat your little juggling tricks with patience, and that I come to you when I want anything oi you, and that you are the only man who can say that of him.self. But you will never get me to join in with you when you play tl1e fool. You know, too, that I have no time to waste. li>on't make· Os both ridiculous, but cornel" «I told you that you would have to wait a little while," explained the voice, seeming to grow more distant. "I shan not wait. I shan go." "Do so, Joh Fredersen~" He wanted to do so. But the door through which he had entered had no key, no latch. The seal of Solomon, glowing copper-red, blinked at him, A soft, far-off voice laughod. Joh Fredersen had stopped stlll, his back to the room. A quiver ran down his back, running along the hanging arms to the clenched fists. "You should have your skull smashed in:' said Joh Freder~ sen, very softly. . . «You should have your sku]}. smashed in ... that is, if it did not contain so valuable a brairt ... :' "You can do no more to me than you have done," said the far-off voice. Joh Fredersen was silent.

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