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10 AN OUTLAW'S DIARYshabby and bore chrysanthemums in the muzzlesof their rifles. From a window a woman of Orientalcorpulence threw white flowers to them.A young girl came along, a Hungarian. She distributedchrysanthemums and smiled, and her shadedeyes shone like a "child's : Long live independentHungary!" I stared at her. There are some likethis too. Many, perhaps very many. They live theglorious revolution of 1848 in this infamous parody,and dream of the realization of Kossuth's dreams.Poor wretches !They are even more unfortunatethan I am.The girl offered me a flower and talked somenonsense about Petofi. I wanted to tell her to giveit up and go home, that she had been deceived andit was all lies; but my efforts were in vain, I couldnot pronounce a single word. I stumbled over theedge of the pavement, my feet seemed leaden . . .A bucket stood in front of me with a big brush in it.I looked up. A weedy youth was spreading pasteover the wall, and a new poster glared at me. Thepeople stood around and craned their necks." Soldiers ! You have proved yourselves thegreatest heroes within the last twenty-four hours,don't soil the honours you have gained. . .Abstain from intoxicating liquors. . .Obeyyour comrades who have volunteered to maintainorder. With patriotic, cordial greetings,Heltai,To i von Commandant.""And who is that, now?" people asked eachother." The Commander of the troops ?"" Is he the Heltai who is the son of Adolph Hoffer ?"" To be sure !" I heard behind my back.The unkempt crowd laughed." Paul Keri and Gondor got him nominated bythe National Council."Paul Keri, whose name used to be Krammer, andFrancis Gondor, whose real name was Nathan Krausz,two radical newspaper scribes, decide who is tocommand the troops of the Hungarian capital And!it is on Heltai, the son of Adolph Hoffer, that theirchoice falls.