It was already more than half-way through June, and still the army remained inactive. Petrobey had so far succeeded in rousing the prince as to permit him to make arrangements for regular supplies being sent to the camp; but there was still no talk of an assault on Tripoli, or indeed any preparations for ensuring its success. The senate had met as usual that morning, and the meeting had degenerated into a fierce brawl between Anagnostes and Nicholas on the one side, and Germanos and Charalambes on the other. It was in vain that the prince tried to restore order; they listened to him no more than to a buzzing fly, when at length Germanos, bitten to the quick by some intolerable taunt of Nicholas's, rose from the table, saying he would take no further part in the deliberations of the senate. "There must be an end," he said, "to this. How long ago is it, Nicholas, since you swore allegiance to me?" "Allegiance in all things in your jurisdiction," replied Nicholas, "and to the glory of God, not to the glory of Germanos." The heat of his anger did not excuse the words, and the moment afterwards every better feeling within him would have had them unsaid, but Anagnostes, sitting at his elbow, applauded vehemently. "Silence, you there," said Germanos, in a white anger. "You will hear my voice no more here; but let me tell you, you are not rid of me. We will see what the people say to such treatment as that I have been subjected to." "Go to the people," shouted Nicholas; "see how the Mainats receive you!" "The Mainats?" said Germanos; "the Mainats, whom I hold a degree only above the Turks?" "My dear archbishop--my dear archbishop," piped the prince. "But there are true and loyal men in Greece besides those hounds," continued Germanos, not even hearing the prince speak. "Archbishop," said the prince again, with a certain dignity, "I command you, I order you, to be silent." Germanos turned round on him, still mad with rage. "You order, you command?" he said, with infinite scorn, and broke into a sudden, unnatural laugh. Prince Demetrius flushed, and on all the senate fell a dead hush. For once the man showed the dignity of birth and breeding, and standing up, he faced the angry prelate. His nervous, weak manner had left him; he rose to the occasion. "You will please to take your seat, archbishop," he said. "I have a few words to say." Germanos looked round and saw on all sides eager, attentive faces bent, not on him, but on the prince. His anger still burned like fire within him, and he paused not to consider. "I prefer to leave the room," he said. "I take no further part in these proceedings." "You choose to disregard my request," said the prince, and with that his voice rose sudden and screaming and fierce; "I will therefore order--Sit down!" he cried.