"I crave your pardon, Mr. President," replied Barbara, and her utterance sounded like a clear silvery bell after Brunowski's magnificent bass voice, "but I understand that the usages of this House require that only one person shall remain covered."
This was said in reference to Lipski, who, while all the rest of the deputies were standing uncovered, sat with his hat on his head.
Zabern, with his sabre clinking against his spurs, strode across the floor of the House.
"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.