The next day as she was about to drive out, about four o'clock, he met her at the entrance of her hotel.
'If you could come with me,' he said, 'you might hear something of interest to-day; there will be a strong discussion. Will you accept my carriage or shall I enter yours?'
What she heard when she reached the Chamber did not interest her greatly. There was a great deal of noise, of declamation, of personal vituperation, of verbose rancour; it did not seem to her to be eloquence. She had heard much more stately oratory in both the Upper and Lower Reichsrath, and much more fiery and noble eloquence at Buda Pesth. This seemed to her poor, shrill mouthing, which led to very little, and the disorder of the Assembly filled her with contempt.
'I thought it was the country of S. Louis!' she said, with a disdainful sigh, to Kaulnitz who answered:
'Cromwell is perhaps more wanted here than S. Louis.'
'Their Cromwell will always be a lawyer without clients, or a journalist sans le sou!' retorted the châtelaine of Hohenszalras.
When she had been there an hour or more she saw Sabran enter the hall and take his place. His height, his carriage, and his distinction of appearance made him conspicuous in a multitude, while the extreme fairness and beauty of his face were uncommon and striking.
'Here is S. Louis,' said the ambassador, with a little smile, 'or a son of S. Louis's crusaders at any rate. He is sure to speak. I think he speaks very well; one would suppose he had done nothing else all his life.'
After a time, when some speakers, virulent, over-eager, and hot in argument, had had their say, and a tumult had risen and been quelled, and the little bell had rung violently for many minutes, Sabran entered the tribune. He had seen the Austrian minister and his companion.
His voice, at all times melodious, had a compass which could fill with ease the large hall in which he was. He appeared to use no more effort than if he were conversing in ordinary tones, yet no one there present lost a syllable that he said. His gesture was slight, calm, and graceful; his language admirably chosen, and full of dignity.