He raised his voice and spoke still more sharply and commandingly, looking all the while at old Sötbier:
"Now I have taken the rudder into my own hands. My course is set straight and I am guiding you to glorious times. Those who wish to help me, are heartily welcome, but whoever opposes me in this work I will smash."
He tried to make his eyes flash and the ends of his moustache rose still higher.
"There is only one master here, and I am he. I am responsible only to God and my own conscience. You can always count on my fatherly benevolence, but revolutionary desires will be shattered against my unbending will. Should I discover any connection between one of you"—he caught the eye of the black-bearded machinist, who looked suspicious—"and the Social Democratic clubs, our relationship will be severed. I regard every Social Democrat as an enemy of my business and his country. … So now return to your work and consider well what I have told you.
He turned round sharply and marched off, breathing heavily His strong words produced in him a kind of dizziness which made him incapable of recognising any face. Disturbed and respectful, his family followed him, while the workers stared at one another in dumb amazement, before they attacked the bottles of beer which stood ready for the feast.
Upstairs Diederich was explaining his plans to his mother and sisters. The factory would have to be enlarged by taking in the house of their neighbour at the back. They would have to go into competition with their rivals. A place in the sun! Old Klüsing over there in the Gausenfeld paper factory probably imagined that he would go on forever getting all the business. … Finally Magda raised the question as to where he expected to get the money, but Frau Hessling interrupted her. "Your brother knows all about that better than we do." Cautiously she added: "Many a girl would be happy if she could win his heart."—Fearing his anger she pressed her hand
