Page:Henryk Sienkiewicz - Potop - The Deluge (1898 translation by Jeremiah Curtin) - Vol 1.djvu/527

Rh in Flanders — she was a fool, — the daughter of a jeweller. After me came the infantry of Spain, and the affair was accounted to them."

"You do not know this girl; she is from an honorable house, walking virtue, you would say a nun."

"Oh, we know the nuns too!"

"And besides she hates us, for she is a patriot. She has tried to influence Kmita. There are not many such among our women. Her mind is purely that of a man; and she is the most ardent adherent of Yan Kazimir."

"Then we will increase his adherents."

"Impossible, for Kmita will publish the letters. I must guard her like the eyes in my head — for a time. Afterward I will give her to you or to your dragoons, all one to me!"

"I give my word of a cavalier that I will not constrain her; and a word given in private I always keep. In politics it is another thing. It would be a shame for me indeed if I could gain nothing by her."

"You will not."

"In the worst case I'll get a slap in the face, and from a woman that is no shame. You are going to Podlyasye, what will you do with her? You will not take her with you, you cannot leave her here; for the Swedes will come to this place, and the girl should remain always in our hands as a hostage. Is it not better that I take her to Tanrogi and send Kmita, not an assassin, but a messenger with a letter in which I shall write, 'Give the letters and I'll give you the maiden.'"

"True," answered Prince Yanush; "that's a good method."

"But if," continued Boguslav, "not altogether as I took her, that will be the first step in vengeance."

"But you have given your word not to use violence."

"I have, and I say again that it would be a shame for me — "

"Then you must take also her uncle, the sword-bearer of Rossyeni, who is staying here with her."

"I do not wish to take him. The noble in the fashion of this region wears, of course, straw in his boots, and I cannot bear that."

"She will not go alone."

"That's to be seen. Ask them to supper this evening, so that I may see and know whether she is worth putting ::VOL. I. — 32