We're going to have a union!" It might have been the Pied Piper of Hamelin whistling up the ratsthere was a hurrying, a scurrying, a weird laughter, a blowing about of words, and the two hundred, first swallowing up Sally, crowded the doorway, moved slowly, pushed, shoved, wedged through, and disappeared, thundering, shouting and laughing, down the steps.

Is it the Piper?

[The crowd parts to admit the PIPER, haled hither with shouts and pelting, by MARTIN the Watch and other men, all breathless.

Piper! PIPER [sternly] Quiet you.

Piper! PIPER [sternly] Quiet you.

( Piper!O Piper!

PIPER Your blasphemies,your cunning and your Fear.

ALL ( No, no!What can we do? ( News, Piper, news!

( Ay, ay! PIPER Your word!

Mine! ( Minemineminemine! PIPER Not yet.

PIPER [gladly] Bid her come, look out!

At sight of his face the PIPER, falters.

PIPER I have tidings forthe wife Of Kurtthe Councillor.

PIPER Bid herlook out!

[The PIPER falls back stricken and speechless.

PIPER [brokenly] The wife of Kurt!

PIPER [to them] Hush!

Reenter the PIPER with JAN in his arms.

[The PIPER lifts him still before the window, gazing up.

PIPER [to him, smiling wisely]

ALL Ay, ay, Piper! HANS the Butcher The thousand guilders!

PIPER Give them Michael there, For all us three.

PIPER No, no!

PIPER Ah, the high-road now!

Oh! why? PIPER I have to find somebody there.