Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/142

118 would bore him through and through; hence confusion again seized him. Not knowing at last what to say, but wishing desperately to break the vexatious silence with some speech, he asked,—

"Are you Yurand of Spyhov, the father of Danusia?"

But the other indicated to him an oaken seat, on which he himself sat, and without uttering a word he looked at him longer.

Zbyshko was impatient at last.

"You know," said he, "that it is awkward for me to sit here as if under judgment."

Only then did Yurand say: "Hadst thou the wish to fight with Lichtenstein?"

"I had." answered Zbyshko.

In the eye of the lord of Spyhov flashed a kind of wonderful light, and his terrible countenance brightened somewhat. After a while he looked at Danusia and inquired again,—

"And was it for her?"

"For whom should it be? Uncle must have told you how I vowed to her to strip peacock-plumes from German heads! Not three of them, but as many as there are fingers on both her hands. Therefore I will help you to take revenge; it is for Danusia's mother."

"Woe to them!" said Yurand.

Again silence followed.

Zbyshko noticed that by showing his hatred against the Germans he was touching Yurand's heart.

"I will not forgive them my own wrongs," said he; "for they came near cutting my head off." Here he turned to Danusia and added, " She saved me."

"I know," replied Yurand.

"And you are not angry because of that?"

"Since thou hast promised her, serve her; for such is knightly custom."

Zbyshko hesitated somewhat, but after a while he began again with evident alarm,—

"Think of this: she covered my head with a veil; the whole knighthood heard her say, 'He is mine;' the Franciscan, also, who was at my side with the cross, heard her. And certain it is that I shall belong to no other till death; so may God help me!"

Then he knelt again, and wishing to show that he knew knightly customs, he kissed with great respect the shoes of