"I shall always act with regard to the Constitution. If this bill should pass I shall affix my signature."
Cheers arose from the Left.
"But I trust the House will not let it pass."
Counter-cheers arose from the Right.
"If my sentiments can in any way influence the decision of deputies, I would appeal to them, irrespective of party, to reject this measure."
With this she bowed to the Diet, and withdrew from the chamber, amid enthusiastic cries of "Long live the Princess of Czernova!"
The chivalry of the Poles, if not of the Muscovites, was evoked. The assassin's pistol-shot, the princess's personal appeal, had produced more effect than all the oratory of the five previous weeks.
As soon as Brunowski had resumed the presidential chair, Zabern again spoke.
"The princess has made it a personal question between herself and Lipski. Well, gentlemen, you have seen the princess, and—you see Lipski," he continued, pointing to that deputy, who looked far from amiable at that moment. "Can any man doubt," he added, with fine scorn, "can any man doubt for whom he shall vote? Let it not be said that—"
Zabern paused. A sound louder than any they had yet heard penetrated to the chamber. A mighty roar was rising from the Zapolyska Square. Twenty thousand voices blending into one proclaimed that the time had come for deciding the great controversy. The iron tongue of the cathedral-clock was booming forth the hour of midnight.