83/88 The silence of the great city spread itself around him, like the still waters of some vast lagoon. Through the silence he heard the noise of the throng of college youths. They were returning, doubling upon their line of march. A long puff of tepid air breathing through the open window brought to his ears the distant joyous sound of their slogan: "Rah, rah, rah! Rah, rah, rah!" They passed by along the adjacent street, their sounds growing faint. Little by little the hallucination gained upon him; little by little his mind slipped from his grasp. |