Page:Thea von Harbou Metropolis eng 1927.pdf/82

 METROPOLIS peeted you to come at any second. or a messenger to come from you. or that you would ring me up. I also informed the watchman. Nobody has come. Mr. Feeder," Freder still remained silent. Slowly, almost stumblingly he stepped over the threshold, into the room raising his right hand to his head, as though to take off his hat, then noticing that he was wearing the cap, the black cap. which pressed the hair tightly down, he swept it from his head; it fell to the ground. His hand sank from his brow, over his eyes, resting there a little while. Then the other joined it. as though wishing to console its sister. His form was like that of a young birch tree pressed sideways by a strong wind. Josaphat's eyes hung on the uniform which Feeder wore. "Mr. Freder," he began cautiously, "how comes it that you are wearing these cJotlles?" Freder remained turned away from him. He took his hands from his eyes and pressed them to his face as though he felt some pain there. "Georgi wore them. . . ." He answered. "I gave him mine...." "Then Georgi is a workman?" "Yes. . . . I found him before the Pater-noster machine. I took his plnce nnd sent him to you ... :' "Perhaps he'll come yet," answered Josaphat. Freder shook his head. "He should have been here hours ago. If he had been caught when leaving the New Tower of Babel, then someone would have come to me when 1 was standing before the machine. It is strange, but there it is; he has not come." "Was there much money in the suit which you exchanged with Georgi?" asked Josaphat tentatively, as one who bares a wounded spot. Freder nodded. "Then you must not be-surprised that Georgi has not come," said Josaphat. But the expression of shame and pain on Freder's face prevented him from continuing. "Won't you sit down, Mr. Freder," he begged. "Or lie down? You look so tired that it is painful to look at YOll." "I have no time to sit down and not time to lie down,

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