Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/233

Rh "I know not whether it is permitted, but I know that they have them. It is true that a Knight of the Cross cannot engage without sin in single combat, for he takes an oath that he will fight with others only for the faith, but there is a multitude of lay knights from distant lands who come to aid the Order. These men are looking only to find some one with whom to fight, especially the French knights."

"Oh, indeed! I have seen them at Vilno, and God grant me to see them also at Malborg. I need peacock-plumes from helmets, for I have vowed to get them—dost understand?"

"Buy, O lord, two or three drops of the sweat which fell from Saint George when he fought the dragon. No relic is of more service to a knight. Give for them that horse on which you commanded me to sit. I will give besides an indulgence for the Christian blood which you will shed in the struggle."

"Say no more, or I shall be angry. I will not take thy wares till I know that they are genuine."

"You are going, lord, as you said, to the Mazovian court, to Prince Yanush. Inquire there how many relics they took of me,—the princess herself and knights and damsels at weddings where I was present."

"What weddings?"

"As usual before Advent. The knights marry one with more haste than another, because people say that there will be war between the King of Poland and the Prussian knights for the land of Dobryn. A man says to himself: 'God knows whether I shall return alive;' and he wishes, before the war comes, to experience happiness with a woman."

The news of the war occupied Zbyshko greatly, but still more that which Sanderus had said about weddings; so he inquired,—

"What damsels were married?"

"Oh, Princess Anna's damsels. I know not whether one remained, for I heard her say that she would have to seek new ladies-in-waiting."

When he heard this Zbyshko was silent for a time; after that he asked with a somewhat changed voice,—

"But Panna Danuta, the daughter of Yurand, whose name stands on the board,—was she married also?"

Sanderus hesitated in answering, first, because he knew nothing clearly, and second, because he thought that by keeping the knight in suspense he would win a

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