If Krötzl had really been prevented by force from attending the session, they would have to wait, _voli-noli_. At this most critical moment a gentleman with a little beard came on the floor furtively and unobserved; he beckoned Herr Habietnik to him, and, breathing hard with agitation, whispered something in his ear, whereupon Herr Habietnik asked for permission to speak. “I can give the honorable House my word as a gentleman that Herr Krötzl has not been murdered; nor has he been prevented by force from attending this exceedingly important session. At the present moment Herr Krötzl is somewhere in our city, in an automobile, so soundly asleep as the result of indulging in the flowing bowl that the chauffeur is unable to rouse him. For the estimable Herr Krötzl, this sole Viennese ornament of the Christian-Socialist party, undertook in a small way, to celebrate his victory early this morning, in the company of a jolly neighbor; and he drank decidedly more than he could stand. His neighbor, who has given me this information, and whom I know personally as a reliable man of honor, then entered a taxicab together with Krötzl to come here. But he had to get out before they reached their destination, as he could no longer endure the stench in the car. For Herr Krötzl belongs to the old guard that would rather give up than die. I don’t know where the thoroughly alive corpse of Herr Krötzl happens to be just now; but this doesn’t concern us, and surely no one will demand that we adjourn until Herr Krötzl has sobered up.” The House rocked with laughter; and now the Presiding Officer called the roll. One hundred and six deputies voted for the elimination of the special anti-Jewish legislation, fifty-three against--and the law was repealed! This time the hundred thousand men and women who were waiting on the street before the building cried “Hurrah!” instead of “Hail!” They were not as enthusiastic as three years before, but seemed a little ashamed of themselves. However, they had recovered their sense of humor, and jests began to fly through the air again. Immediately after the vote Leo rushed out of the Parliament Building, jumped into a taxicab, and sped to the Linke Wienzeile, to the _Arbeiter-Zeitung_. There, pleading urgent business, he obtained an audience with the editor-in-chief, conversing with him privately for half an hour. As he was about to depart the editor warmly shook both his hands, laughing: “You’ve accomplished something extraordinary, and I rejoice with you with all my heart. I can’t help admiring your impudence! Really, it’s impossible not to....” “Call it Jewish impudence,” Leo supplemented gaily as he hurried down the stairs. * * * * * The extra editions of the newspapers, announcing the end of the exclusion of the Jews, had barely appeared before a second extra edition of the _Arbeiter-Zeitung_ was cried out: “THE KRONE IS RISING!”