at you can do. So far as that
prophecy goes of first one and then another, you need not be concerned
about Transylvania. I will wager that everybody who crosses
Transylvania by force of arms, let him be who he may, will find a
force to match him. I also wager that this Transylvanian fighting
force will never for the love of anybody rashly cross the borders of a
foreign country."

"So then you think Hungary is a foreign country!" rang out a mocking
voice from the crowd.

This interruption disturbed Banfy's composure. He turned angrily
toward the corner from which the remark had come, and when he met the
cold, disdainful glances of the Hungarians grouped together, he forgot
himself; everything swam before him, and throwing his kalpac on the
ground he cried out:

"As you say, quite right. You have always been strangers to us; nay
more, stepchildren! You have always done wrong and we have always
suffered for it. We have fought and you have trifled away the results
of our conquests. Three times have your dissensions plunged your
country into the grave, and three times has Transylvania brought it to
resurrection. We have furnished you heroes and you have furnished us
traitors." These last words Banfy had fairly to shout to make himself
heard above the increasing din. Soon all were shouting confusedly. The
Hungarian lords sprang up from their places and broke out in anathemas
against Banfy. The more serious of the peace-party shook their heads
thoughtfully when they saw that this inconsiderate expression of
Banfy's was the occasion of stirring up so much violence of feeling.

Beldi rose; and the rest who would gladly see peace restored, shouted:
"Let us listen to Beldi."

At this moment a young man suddenly made his way forward and stood in
front of Banfy with glowing face and his hand resting on Teleki's
seat. It was Emerich Toekoeli.

"I too ask for a word," he shouted, with a voice that drowned all
else. "By law and justice, speech is mine at this bar. If you in
Hungary deny your mother and would make boundaries between her and
you, then I too will speak. I am just as strong a landed nobleman
in Transylvania as you, proud little god, whose father was one of
those heroes in whose name you are heaping up insults on the
mother-country."

Beldi tried to get to Toekoeli to restrain him from speaking, but just
then he was seized from behind by the hand, and when he looked around
he saw to his surprise his son-in-law, Pa