Schwertfeger began to freeze into his now habitual gloom, the anti-Semitic chiefs lost their heads entirely; but Mayor Laberl did something that created a tremendous sensation. Three days before the election he resigned from the Christian-Socialist Citizens’ Club, and joined the Party of Active Citizens. And more than half of the Municipal Council followed his example. On this day a warm wind blew away the last traces of snow from the hills about Vienna. And in the Billrothstrasse studio two young people were clasped in an ardent and yearning embrace. He whispered: “Oh, when will you be mine?” And she replied dreamily: “If you could only take off that little beard--it tickles me so!” CHAPTER XVIII. THE ELECTION The election called forth an interest unprecedented in all the world. Old men, invalids, and cripples went to the ballot-boxes; and in the afternoon, when the polls were closed, it was known that ninety-nine per cent of the enfranchised citizens of Vienna had performed their duty to their country. Then the counting of the votes began throughout the land, lasting till early in the morning; and in the forenoon extra editions of the _Arbeiter-Zeitung_ and the _Weltpresse_ announced the amazing result. Only the rural districts had remained faithful to the Christian-Socialists and Pan-Germans. Vienna had elected the candidates of the Socialists and the Citizens’ Party almost exclusively, as had also the smaller towns and the industrial region of Austria. The new Parliament, therefore, was composed as follows: Seventy Social-Democrats, thirty-six members of the Active Citizens’ Party, thirty Christian-Socialists, and twenty-four Pan-Germans. This gave a hundred and six votes for the repeal of the special anti-Jewish legislation, and fifty-four for its continuance. Leo’s beautiful dream--and that of the liberal Citizens and Socialists--therefore seemed destroyed, for they lacked exactly one vote for the two-thirds majority without which the Constitution could not be amended. In spite of their overwhelming defeat, in spite of the fact that the government had to resign immediately to make room for a Social-Democratic ministry, the anti-Semites were rejoicing, and paraded about the town with banners inscribed with the slogan: “The Jews are staying out!”