"Fellow!" he muttered, grinding his teeth, "if you do not remove your hat, my troopers shall nail it to your pate." And Lipski, seeing Zabern's savage demeanor, prudently doffed his head-covering. "Mr. President," said Radzivil, "I move that the deputy for Russograd be suspended from this sitting for treating the person of the princess with contempt." "Oh, no, Count," observed Barbara. "Let it not be said that we sought to deprive a deputy of his vote." When the ringing of the President's bell had repressed the cheers evoked by this remark, Barbara proceeded to explain the reason of her appearance. "Mr. President, Ministers and Deputies," she began, speaking with self-possession and dignity, "it may be said that the princess ought not to intervene in the affairs of the Diet, but should remain quiescent, and simply register the decrees of the majority. But, sir," she added, with a graceful inclination of her head towards Brunowski, "your princess is not an automaton, but a human being with feelings that can be moved. I feel strongly on this bill, and I do not hesitate to say so." She paused for a moment, and then resumed. "I shall always act with regard to the Constitution. If this bill should pass I shall affix my signature." Cheers arose from the Left. "But I trust the House will not let it pass." Counter-cheers arose from the Right. "If my sentiments can in any way influence the decision of deputies, I would appeal to them, irrespective of party, to reject this measure." With this she bowed to the Diet, and withdrew from the chamber, amid enthusiastic cries of "Long live the Princess of Czernova!" The chivalry of the Poles, if not of the Muscovites, was evoked. The assassin's pistol-shot, the princess's personal appeal, had produced more effect than all the oratory of the five previous weeks. As soon as Brunowski had resumed the presidential chair, Zabern again spoke. "The princess has made it a personal question between herself and Lipski. Well, gentlemen, you have seen the princess, and--you see Lipski," he continued, pointing to that deputy, who looked far from amiable at that moment. "Can any man doubt," he added, with fine scorn, "can any man doubt for whom he shall vote? Let it not be said that--" Zabern paused. A sound louder than any they had yet heard penetrated to the chamber. A mighty roar was rising from the Zapolyska Square. Twenty thousand voices blending into one proclaimed that the time had come for deciding the great controversy. The iron tongue of the cathedral-clock was booming forth the hour of midnight. "The vote will now be taken," cried Brunowski, amid a scene of indescribable excitement. "I move that it be taken by secret ballot," exclaimed Zabern. "I oppose it," said the Duke of Bora. The President put the question to the assembly, and the proposal for secret ballot was carried by acclamation.