"Why, most of those on our side of the House went to hear Rubini."
"Including a simpleton named Dorislas. And so Lipski and his Muscovite crew took advantage of the emptiness of the benches on the Right to spring this new bill upon the Diet. But, sword of St. Michael, didn't Radzivil send Opalinski to the opera-house to summon away the absentee fools?"
"He did, with this result. When Opalinski arrived Rubini was singing, and our whip became so entranced that he quite forgot the errand on which he had come, till—till it was too late. When our fellows came trooping back they were met with derisive laughter from the Left."
"The bill had already passed its first reading?"
"Precisely, marshal. But that's not all. Lipski had likewise proposed that, pending the issue of this infernal bill, the precincts of the monasteries shall be patrolled by the military."
"To prevent the monks from removing their treasures."
"That's the object. The Diet passed the resolution. Radzivil, as servant of the House, was obliged to submit, with the result that to-day there is not a monastery in Czernova that has not bayonets moving round it."
"Including the Convent of the Transfiguration?" asked Zabern.
"Including the Convent of the Transfiguration," answered Dorislas.
Zabern muttered some oaths under his breath. Presently, however, he broke into a grim smile.