This marked the beginning of an animated public discussion; letters poured into the editorial offices, and the landlords clamored more and more for the repeal of the Tenants’ Protective Law, for the privilege of giving notice and of raising rents at their own discretion. Herr Windholz, the owner of the Billrothstrasse house, suddenly became an important personage; he was elected to the presidency of the landlords’ association, and he came every day to his cultured French tenant, M. Dufresne, for advice. Gaily Herr Strakosch, _alias_ Dufresne, egged him on, declaring emphatically one day: “If the landlords endure this slavery any longer, I’ll consider them spineless fools one and all, and I’ll leave the city where such conditions can continue to prevail.” “But what can we do?” Herr Windholz asked in despair. “What can we do when the government absolutely refuses to comply with our demands?” “What can you do? I’ll tell you: Get your association together today, and resolve to deliver a three days’ ultimatum to the government. If by the end of that period it has not restored the privilege of managing your houses in your own way, you, the landlords, will strike. You will pay no taxes, you will suspend the lighting and cleaning of your houses, you will refuse to pay interest on your mortgages--in short, you will commit sabotage against the state.” Herr Windholz waxed enthusiastic, embraced the Frenchman, and assured him that whatever may happen his rent would not be raised. Subsequent events followed M. Dufresne’s plan. The Viennese landlords’ association accepted the ultimatum unanimously, and the government was defeated. In vain did Dr. Schwertfeger asseverate that the repeal of the Tenants’ Protective Law would have most disastrous results; his fellow ministers outvoted him. Primarily, as the _Arbeiter-Zeitung_ maliciously pointed out, because the Ministers of Finance, Education, and Commerce each owned several houses. Thus fell the Tenants’ Protective Law, which had forbidden the landlords to dispossess their tenants or to raise rents at will; and twenty-four hours later there took place a stormy open meeting of the landlords, where it was decided to increase the current rents a thousandfold, so that they would be somewhat more in keeping with the cost of living. A solemn pledge bound all to adhere to this decision.