Page:Henryk Sienkiewicz - Potop - The Deluge (1898 translation by Jeremiah Curtin) - Vol 1.djvu/523

Rh morning it will be healed. What are the elector's plans touching us? Nothing; he wrote to me that he will not forget us."

"What does that mean?"

"I have the letter with me; I will show it to you. He writes that whatever may happen he will not forget us; and I believe him, for his interests enjoin that. The elector cares as much for the Commonwealth as I do for an old wig, and would be glad to give it to Sweden if he could seize Prussia; but the power of Sweden begins to alarm him, therefore he would be glad to have an ally ready for the future; and he will have one if you mount the throne of Lithuania."

"Would that had happened! Not for myself do I wish that throne!"

"All Lithuania cannot be had, perhaps, at first, but even if we get a good piece with White Russia and Jmud — "

"But what of the Swedes?"

"The Swedes will be glad also to use us as a guard against the East."

"You pour balsam on me."

"Balsam! Aha! A certain necromancer in Taurogi wanted to sell me balsam, saying that whoever would anoint himself with it would be safe from spears, swords, and sabres. I ordered a soldier to rub him with it at once and thrust a spear into him. Can you imagine, the spear went right through his body."

Here Prince Boguslav laughed, showing teeth as white as ivory. But this conversation was not to the taste of Yanush; he began again therefore on public affairs.

"I sent letters to the King of Sweden, and to many others of our dignitaries. You must have received a letter through Kmita."

"But wait! I was coming to that matter. What is your idea of Kmita?"

"He is hot-headed, wild, dangerous, and cannot endure restraint; but he is one of those rare men who serve us in good faith."

"Surely," answered Boguslav; "and he came near earning the kingdom of heaven for me."

"How is that?" asked Yanush, with alarm.

"They say, lord brother, that if your bile is stirred suffocation results. Promise me to listen with patience and quietly, and I will tell something of your Kmita, from