At length, the speaker who had addressed them on the Kohlmarkt,
conscious of his pledges and of the reward promised to him, overcame
his momentary bashfulness and stepped boldly into the ante-room,
where the others, encouraged by his example, followed him at once.

Baron Thugut now raised his eyes with an air of great indifference
from his plate and glanced at the men who with noisy steps
approached through the anteroom. Then turning to the footman behind
him, he said, in a loud voice:

"Germain, go and ask these gentlemen if they want to see me? Ask
them likewise whom you will have the honor to announce to your
master?"

The men, overhearing these words, grew still more confused when the
servant in his gorgeous livery stepped up to them, and, with a most
condescending smile, informed them of the errand his master had
given to him.

But now it was out of the question to withdraw, as there was nothing
left to them but to arm themselves with whatever pluck and boldness
they had at their command in order to carry out the role they had
undertaken to play in the most becoming manner.

"Yes," said the speaker of the Kohlmarkt, loudly and resolutely, "we
want to see the minister; and as for our names, I am Mr. Wenzel, of
the tailors' guild; my neighbor here is Mr. Kahlbaum, also a tailor;
and others may mention their own names, so that this polite
gentleman may answer them to his excellency."