Royalists;
others were very lukewarm ones; and others still could hardly be
described as Royalists at all. Generally speaking, the politicians out
of office had found in the cause of Constantine a national badge for a
party feud. Moreover, they realized that the question of Constantine
possessed an international as well as a national aspect, and they did not
wish to compromise the future of Greece and their own; which would have
been nothing else than stepping into the very pit M. Venizelos had dug
for them. But neither could they repudiate Constantine without losing
popular support: to the Greek people the main issue of the fight was
indeed what M. Venizelos made it.

At length the day of trial arrived: a Sunday (14 Nov.)--a day of leisure
in a land of universal suffrage. From an early hour people of all
classes thronged the polling-stations quietly. They had clamoured for a
chance of expressing their sentiments; yet now that the chance had come,
they took it with an extraordinary composure. Even to the most expert
eye the electors' demeanour gave no indication of their sentiments: the
olive-twig had very curiously withered out of sight. Nor did the
behaviour of the voters in the last three years afford any clue to the
use they would make of their present opportunity. Greeks are past
masters of simulation and dissimulation. Openly some might have
pretended friendship to the Venizelist regime from hopes of favour,
others again dissembled hostility through fear; but the voting was secret.

Both Government and Opposition shared the suspense, {226} though the
Government anticipated an overwhelming majority;[6] which was natural
enough, since all the advantage seemed on its side.

Presently the votes were counted--and "it was officially announced that
the Government had been mistaken in its anticipations." The magnitude of
the mistake appeared on the publication of the figures: 250 seats to 118:
the Royalists had swept the polls, to the astonishment of all parties,
including their own.[7] The very men who had fought at the bidding of M.
Venizelos had pronounced themselves against him: having fulfilled their
duty as soldiers, they vindicated their right to live as free citizens.
His own constituency had rejected him. And would the rout stop there?
Among the millions who had submitted to his rule with sullen irritation
there were many whose hearts swelled with rage, in whom old wounds
rankled and festered: might