Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/228

204 thou wouldst fall on thy face,—not only thou, but all the pines in the forests, and all the wild beasts."

The Cheh, who was clever and experienced, looked suspiciously at the dealer in indulgences, and added,—

"But the wolves ate thy horse."

"They did, for they are the devil's relatives; but they burst. I saw one of them burst with my own eyes. If thou hast wine give it, for though the wind has stopped, I am chilled from sitting at the roadside."

Hlava did not give the wine, and again they rode on in silence, till the dealer in relics inquired,—

"Whither are ye going?"

"Far. But at present to Sieradz. Wilt thou go with us?"

"I must. I will sleep in the stable, and to-morrow mayhap that pious knight will give me a horse, and I shall go farther."

"Whence comest thou?"

"From the land of the Prussian lords, from near Malborg." Hearing this, Zbyshko turned his head, and beckoned the unknown to him.

"Thou art from near Malborg? Whence comest thou now?"

"From near Malborg."

"But thou art not a German, thou speakest our language so well. What is thy name?"

"I am a German, and they call me Sanderus; I know your language, for I was born in Torun, where all people speak it. Later I lived in Malborg, but it is the same there. Nay! even brothers of the Order understand your language."

"And art thou long from Malborg?"

"I have been in the Holy Land, in Constantinople, and in Rome, whence I returned through France to Malborg; from Malborg I went to Mazovia, carrying holy relics, which pious Christians buy gladly to save their souls."

"Wert thou in Plotsk, and also in Warsaw?"

"I was in both places. May God give health to both princesses! Not without cause do the Prussian lords themselves love Princess Alexandra; she is a saintly lady, though Princess Anna, the wife of Prince Yanush, is not inferior."

"Hast thou seen the court in Warsaw?"

"I have not met it in Warsaw, but in Tsehanov, where the prince and the princess received me hospitably as a servant of God, and gave me rich gifts for the road. But I left relics which must bring them God's blessing."