Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/132

108 "I do not deny that. I should go gladly to Warsaw with the court of the princess, or to Tsehanov, so as to be as long as possible with Danusia. I cannot live now without her in any way; she is not only my lady, but my love. I am so glad when I see her that when I think of her a shiver takes hold of me. I would go with her even to the end of the earth, but you are at present my first law. You did not leave me, and I will not desert you. If to Bogdanets, then to Bogdanets!"

"Thou art a good boy!"

"God would punish me were I not good to you. See, they are packing the wagons already, and one I have filled with hay for you. Amyley has presented besides a feather bed, but I know not whether you will be able to stay on it from heat. We will drive slowly with the princess and the court, so that care may not fail you. Afterward they will go to Mazovia, and we to our place. God aid us!"

"Only let me live long enough to rebuild the castle," said Matsko; "for I know that after my death thou wilt not think often of Bogdanets."

"Why should I not think?"

"For in thy head will be love and battles."

"But was there not war in your own head? I have marked out exactly what I am to do; the first thing is to build a castle of strong oak—and we shall have a moat dug around it in order."

"Is that thy way of thinking?" inquired Matsko, with roused curiosity. "But when will the castle be built? Tell that!"

"The castle will be built before my visit to Princess Anna's court in Warsaw or Tsehanov."

"After my death?"

"If you die soon, it will be after your death. If you die I will bury you worthily first of all; and if the Lord Jesus give you health you will stay in Bogdanets. The princess has promised that I shall receive a knight's belt from the prince. Without that, Lichtenstein would not fight with me."

"After that wilt thou go to Malborg?"

"To Malborg, or to the end of the earth, if I can only find Lichtenstein."

"I will not blame thee in that. Thy death or his!"

"Ah! I will bring his glove and his belt to Bogdanets, have no fear."

"But guard against treason. With them treason is ready."