Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/200

176 "They are free to carry swords," replied the abbot; "for they are not consecrated, and that I bear a sword too at my side is no wonder. A year ago I challenged Vilk to trampled earth, for those forests through which you passed before reaching Bogdanets. He did not appear."

"How was he to meet a spiritual person?" interrupted Zyh.

At this the abbot grew excited, and, striking the table with his fist, he cried,—

"When in armor I am not a priest, but a noble! And he did not appear, because he preferred to attack me at night with his attendants in Tulcha. That is why I carry a sword at my side! Omnes leges, omniaque iura vim vi repellere cunctisque sese defensare permittunt. (All laws, all rights, permit us all to defend ourselves with force against force.) That is why I have given them swords."

When they heard the Latin, Zyh and Matsko and Zbyshko grew silent and bent their heads before the wisdom of the abbot, for not a man understood one word of it; he looked around a while longer with angry eyes, and said at last,—

"Who knows that he will not attack me here?"

"Oh, just let him come!" said the wandering clerics, grasping their sword hilts.

"Let him attack! It is dreary for me too without a battle."

"He will not attack," said Zyh; "he will come with obeisance and peace rather. He has renounced the forest; he is thinking now of his son—you understand. But there is no use in his waiting."

Meanwhile the abbot was pacified, and said,—

"I saw young Vilk drinking with Stan in the inn at Kresnia. They did not know us at first, for it was dark; besides they were talking of Yagenka." Here he turned to Zbyshko, "And of thee."

"What did they want of me?"

"They did not want anything; but it was not to their liking to find a third man in the neighborhood. This is how Stan spoke to Vilk: 'When I tan his skin he will not be pretty;' and Stan said: 'Maybe he will fear us; if not, I will break his bones in a twinkle!' Then both declared that thou wouldst be afraid."

When Matsko heard this, he looked at Zyh, Zyh at him, and their faces took on a cunning and delighted expression.