Hundreds of citizens stood about, all armed and gesticulating violently, but as yet offering no personal mischief to any one. Several times I had to stop while they cheered for Hungary and Kossuth; but at length, after considerable pushing and squeezing, I reached the gate.
There were few soldiers about, and these could certainly have been overpowered by one determined rush of the mob outside; but the time for that had not yet come.
At first the officer on duty made some difficulty about passing me; but at length I was sent under escort across the courtyard, and admitted into the building.
Here still further delay occurred. Count Latour was busy; he could not see me; it would be better to call another time, or deliver my message to the count's secretaries.
Patience, however, is a useful weapon, and by its aid I found myself at last in the audience-chamber, where the minister was engaged in animated discussion with his colleagues.
"Well, young sir?" exclaimed the noble-looking veteran sharply. "Your news must be of extreme importance to justify your persistence."
"You shall judge for yourself, count, if these gentlemen will leave us for five minutes."
At this the others smiled, and one muttered something about a Magyar adventurer.
I had entered the room with peace in my heart; but this insult was abominable, and I loudly demanded to know if they took me for an assassin.
A little old man with a white beard and small ferret eyes stopped my high-flown speech by saying, "Remember Lamberg!" and at those words, so full of meaning, I hung my head in shame.