Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/26

2 "ad concessionem pecuniarum" (to pay money) was esteemed; hence it happened frequently that merchants were seen drinking in inns on the footing of lord brother with nobles. Nobles were even glad to see them, for merchants, as persons who possessed ready coin, paid usually for men with escutcheons.

So this time they sat and conversed, winking from moment to moment at the innkeeper to replenish the tankards.

"Then, noble knights," said one of the merchants, "ye have examined a piece of the world?"

"Not many of those now assembling in Cracow from all parts have seen as much," answered the knight.

"And not a few will assemble," continued the citizen. "Great feasts, and great happiness for the kingdom! They say, too, and it is certain, that the king has ordered for the queen a brocade bed embroidered with pearls, and above it a canopy. There will be festivals and tournaments within barriers, such as the world has not seen to this day."

"Interrupt not the knight, Gossip Gamroth," said a second merchant.

"I am not interrupting him, Gossip Eyertreter, but I think that he himself will be glad to know what people are saying, for surely he is going to Cracow. As it is, we shall not return to the city to-day, for the gates would be closed before us; and at night insects, hatched among chips, do not let people sleep, so we have time for everything."

"But you answer one word with twenty. You are growing old, Gamroth."

"Still I can carry a piece of damp cloth under my arm."

"Oh, indeed! but such cloth that light passes through it, as through a sieve."

Further conversation was interrupted by the warrior.

"It is sure," said he, "that I shall stop in Cracow, for I have heard of the tournaments, and shall be glad to try my strength in the lists, and this nephew of mine here also, who, though young and beardless, has seen more than one coat of mail on the ground."

The guests looked at the youth, who smiled joyously, and, when he had put his long hair behind his ears with both hands, raised the tankard of beer to his lips.

"Even if we wished to return," added the old knight, "we have no place to which we could go."

"How is that?" asked one of the nobles. "Whence are ye, and what are your names?"