"The friends of Count Lamberg speak differently," interrupted one of the officers with a bitter sneer.
"You are ungenerous, sir, to taunt the Hungarian nation with the crime of a handful of ragamuffins," I said.
"Yes, yes," exclaimed the prince; "but that is not the point. Can you deny the charges made against you?"
Stephen glanced round him indifferently; he would not deign to answer, and I followed his example.
Rakoczy, however, still smiling and confident, spoke for all.
"You have asked a question, prince," he said, "and you shall have a reply, though it may not be to the liking of some of these gentlemen. We were all three present at the attack on the bridge, and when your general fell, I by main force prevented my friend Stephen Botskay from throwing himself single-handed against the rebels. As to the murder of Count Latour, George Botskay risked his life time and again to save him, not from Hungarians, but from Austrians. Do you see this wound?" and he bared his arm. "That was done by an Austrian pike. Would you know why that gallant lad's head is swathed in bandages? Ask your fellow-countrymen, prince. The answer will show you that not Hungary alone harbours assassins."
"Talk is cheap," sneered the officer who had spoken before. "Why, that very fellow was at the first barricade in the Prater!"
"Is that so?" asked the prince.
"Yes," said Rakoczy simply; "I was there."
"Which many a poor fellow had reason to be thankful for," I interrupted. "More than one man in your ranks to-day owes his life to John Rakoczy's bravery."