Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/235

Rh "As true as life!" said Zbyshko.

In view of such an announcement Sanderus thought it better to be cautious, and answered,—

"If I had wished to lie I should have answered at once that she was married, or was not married, but I said that I did not remember. If thou hadst wit thou wouldst have noted my virtue at once by this answer."

"My wit is not a brother to thy virtue, for thy virtue may be a dog's sister."

"My virtue does not bark like thy wit, and whoso barks during life may easily howl after death."

"And in truth thy virtue will not howl after death, but gnash, unless during life it loses its teeth in the service of Satan."

And they began a war of words, for the Cheh had a nimble tongue, and for every word from the German he found two. Meanwhile Zbyshko gave command to start, and they pushed on, having inquired first carefully of experienced people about the road to Lenchytsa. A little beyond Sieradz they entered deep pine forests with which the greater part of the country was covered. But through them in parts was a road, ditched at the sides, in low places even paved with round stones, a remnant of King Kazimir's management. It is true that after his death, amid disorders of the war roused by the Nalenchi and the Grymaliti, roads had been neglected somewhat, but during Yadviga's time, after the pacification of the kingdom, spades appeared again in the hands of dexterous people along swamps and in forests appeared axes. Toward the end of her life the merchant might conduct his laden wagons between the most important towns without fear of seeing them broken in ruts or stuck fast in mud holes. Wild beasts or robbers might meet one on the road, but against beasts there were torches at night, and crossbows during daylight; as to robbers and rascals, there were fewer of them than in neighboring countries. Moreover, the man who went with an escort and armed might advance without fear.

So Zbyshko feared neither robbers nor armed knights; he did not even think of them, for great alarm had fallen on him, and his whole soul was at the Mazovian court. Would he find his Danusia a damsel of the princess, or the wife of some knight of Mazovia? He knew not himself, and from daylight till darkness he wrestled with his thoughts on this question. Sometimes it seemed to him impossible that she should forget him, but at other times it came to his head that perhaps