nobles were
the deputies and nobility of the Szeklers in their simpler costume and
with their serious inflexible features; and the Saxon states with
their simple faces and their ancestral German costume.

The crowd gathered in the galleries and behind the balustrades formed
a gay picture. Here and there one or another familiar figure was
pointed out and sometimes a threatening fist was shaken at some
offender. Finally a blare of trumpets announced that the Prince had
come. The seneschals threw wide the doors: the crowd cried huzza! and
the Prince entered attended by his courtiers. At their head marched
Dionysius Banfy as first marshal, with the national standard in his
right hand. By his side Paul Beldi of Uzoni with the princely mace, as
general of the Szeklers. Behind them came solemnly the prime minister,
Michael Teleki, carrying wrapped in silk the official seal.

All these lords were in splendid court costume. In the middle came the
Prince himself in long, princely caftan with ermine bordered cap,--the
sceptre in his hand. Around and behind him crowded the ambassadors
from foreign courts. In the first row was the Sultan's representative,
in jeweled costume; then followed the ambassadors of Louis XIV.,
Forval, a courtly, good-looking man in a silk-trimmed dolman, with
gold lace on his hat and an embroidered sword-knot, and an abbe with
smiling face, wearing a lilac robe and purple girdle. Then came
Sobieski's representative in cloak with slashed sleeves, so like the
Hungarian dress. All these lords took their places on the right and
left. The ambassadors of the foreign courts remained behind the
Prince's seat and several of them carried on a lively conversation
with the Hungarian nobles while the tedious protocol of the last Diet
was being read.

Among the last was Nicholas Bethlen, whose features became familiar to
us in Zrinyi's hunting-party. He was a lively, sensible man who in his
youth had traveled through all the civilized countries of Europe and
had made the acquaintance of the most important men, even of princes;
yet his national character had not been impaired although he had
adopted the most advanced ideas of his time. The French say that it
was he who first acquainted them with the hussar costume, and by the
pattern of the cloak which excited admiration on his figure, Louis
XIV. had several regiments equipped.

When Bethlen caught sight of Forval, whom he had known in France, he
hastened to him and