Why are there no trumpets here? Why no celebration? Why are these old and rusty gates closed? And why does no one hand me the keys? Is it proper in decent circles to meet thus an eminent guest, the reigning prince of the earth, which is friendly to us? Only the doorkeeper is here, apparently asleep, and no one else. It is bad--bad! _He bursts into laughter, and stretching himself wearily, sits down upon a rock. He speaks humbly and with an air of fatigue._ But I am not vainglorious. Trumpets, flowers, and shouting--all this is useless! I myself heard at one time how the people trumpeted glory for David Leizer, but what has come of it? _He heaves a sigh._ It is sad to think of it. _He whistles mournfully._ You have surely heard of the misfortune that has come upon my friend David Leizer? I remember when I last chatted with you,--you did not know this name then.... But do you know it now? It is a name to be proud of! When I left the earth, the entire earth in a million of hungry throats called this glorious name, shouting: "David is a deceiver! David is a traitor! David is a liar!" Then it seemed to me that some of the people reproached also another one--for my honest friend, who died an untimely death, did not act so incautiously in his own name. _The Guardian is silent. And Anathema shouts now with an air of real triumph, breathing malice._ The name! Call the name of him who has ruined David and thousands of people! I, Anathema, have no heart, my eyes have dried up from the fire of Hell, and there are no tears in them, but if the tears were there I would have given them all to David. I have no heart, but there was an instant when something five trembled in my chest, and I was frightened: I wondered whether a heart could be born. I saw how David was perishing and thousands of people with him, I saw how his spirit, grown dark, curled up piteously like a dead worm in the sun, was hurled down into the abyss of non-existence, into my abode of darkness and death.... Tell me, are you not the one who has ruined David? GUARDIAN OF THE ENTRANCES. David has attained immortality, and he lives forever in the deathlessness of fire. David has attained immortality, and he fives forever in the deathlessness of fight, which is fife. _Dumfounded, Anathema falls to the ground and lies motionless for an instant. Then he lifts his head, which is as angry as that of a serpent. He rises and speaks with the calm of boundless wrath._ ANATHEMA. You fie! Forgive me my daring, but you fie. Surely your power is immense--and you can give immortality to a dead worm that has turned black from the sun. But would that be just? Or do the numbers fie to which you, too, must submit? Or do all the scales fie, and is all your world nothing but one fie,--a cruel and mad game of laws, a malicious laugh of a despot at the dumbness and submissiveness of the slave?