Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/219

Rh "How do you know? How? Surely it is not true."

"How do I know? I saw how pained he was to go. And besides, when it was decided that he must, I asked him: 'Art thou not sorry for Yagenka?' and he answered: 'May God give her health, and all that is best.' He began to sigh then, as if he had the bellows of a blacksmith in his breast."

"Surely not true!" repeated Yagenka, in a low voice; "but tell on."

"As God is dear to me it is true! That other one will not be so pleasant to him after thee, for thou knowest thyself that a firmer and a fairer maiden than thou is not to be found in all the world. He felt the will of God for thee, never fear—perhaps more than thou for him."

"Fear God!" cried Yagenka.

And noting that she had said something impulsively, she covered her face, which was as ruddy again as an apple. Matsko smiled, drew his hand along his moustaches, and said,—

"Ei, if I were young! But be patient, for I see how it will end. He will go, he will get his spurs at the Mazovian court; the boundary is near, and it is easy to find Knights of the Cross. I know that among Germans there are strong men, and that iron does not rebound from his skin, but I think that no common man will be able to meet him, for in battle the rogue is tremendously skilful. See how he knocked down Vilk and Stan in one flash, though people call them strong as bears, and grand fellows. He will bring his plumes, but he will not bring them to Yurand's daughter; for I too have talked with Yurand, and I know how matters are. Well, and what will be afterward? Afterward he will come hither, for whither should he go?"

"When will he come?"

"Well, if thou wait not there will be no feeling against thee. But now repeat to Zyh and the abbot what I tell thee. Let them soften their anger against Zbyshko even a little."

"How am I to explain? Papa is vexed rather than angry, but it is dangerous to speak of Zbyshko in presence of the abbot. He gave it to me, and to papa, because of the man whom I sent to Zbyshko."

"What man?"

"We had a Cheh here, you know, whom papa captured at Boleslavets, a good man and faithful. His name is Hlava,