Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/141

Rh through you. No man can insist on his own with him. But the princess, our lady, he loves, for he took her damsel as wife, and now his daughter is reared with us."

Zbyshko drew a breath of relief.

"Then you say that he does not oppose the will of the princess?"

"I know what you would like to learn, and what I have heard I will tell. The princess spoke with him about your betrothal, for it would not be well to conceal it, but it is unknown what he answered."

Thus conversing they reached the gate. The captain of the royal bowmen, the same who had conducted Zbyshko to death, nodded to him now in a friendly manner; so, passing the guards, they found themselves in the court, and then entered on the right to the part occupied by the princess. The courtier, meeting a page before the door inquired,—

"Where is Yurand of Spyhov?"

"In the Winding Room with his daughter."

"It is over there," said the courtier, indicating the door.

Zbyshko made the sign of the cross on himself, and, raising a curtain in the opened door, entered with beating heart. But he did not see Yurand and Danusia, for the room was not merely "winding," but dark. Only after a while did he see the bright head of the maiden; she was sitting on her father's knees; they did not hear when he entered, so he halted at the curtain, coughed and said at last,—

"May He be praised!"

"For the ages of ages!" answered Yurand, rising.

At that moment Danusia sprang to the young knight, and seizing him by the hand, exclaimed,—

"Zbyshko! Papa has come!"

Zbyshko kissed her hand, and with her approached Yurand.

"I have come to bow down to you," said Zbyshko. "Do you know who I am?"

Then he inclined slightly and made a motion with his hands as if wishing to seize Yurand's feet. But Yurand took his hand, turned him toward the light and examined him silently.

Zbyshko had recovered somewhat, so he raised his eyes full of curiosity to Yurand, and saw before him a man of immense stature, with blond hair and light moustaches, a face pitted with small-pox, and having only one eye, which was of an iron color. It seemed to Zbyshko as if that eye