Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/260

236 be was among the "neighbors." Of Yagenka the cunning avoider uttered no word. As to the rest he spoke truly, for at that moment he so loved the fair Danusia that he would have seized her, taken her over on to his horse, kept her before him, and held her at his breast.

He did not dare to do this; but when the next thicket separated them from the courtiers and the guests riding behind, he bent toward her, put his arm around her waist, and hid his face in the weasel-skin hood, testifying to his love by that act.

But as in winter there are no leaves on hazel nut bushes, Danveld and De Lorche saw him; courtiers saw him also, and began to talk among themselves.

"He kissed her in presence of the princess! I believe that the lady will soon have the wedding."

"He is a gallant fellow, but Yurand's blood is sulphurous."

"Flint and steel, though the girl seems like a dove. Sparks will fly from them, never fear! He has fastened a claw to the quick in her."

So they conversed, laughing; but Hugo turned to De Lorche his goatish, malignant, lustful face.

"Could you wish that some Merlin would change you by magic into that young knight?" asked he.

"And you?" inquired De Lorche.

At this the Knight of the Cross, in whom evidently envy and desire were now boiling, jerked his horse with impatient hand, and answered,—

"On my soul!"—

In that moment, however, he recollected himself, and inclining added—

"I am a monk who has vowed chastity."

And he looked quickly at De Lorche, fearing lest he might see a smile on his face; for the Order had an evil fame in the world on that point, and Danveld among monks had the worst. Some years before, when assistant starosta in Sambria, complaints had become so loud against him that in spite of every condescension with which such things were regarded in Malborg they had to transfer him to the post of commander in Schytno. Having arrived some days before with a secret commission to the court of Prince Yanush, and seeing the charming daughter of Yurand, he was inflamed with desire for her, against which Danusia's age was no curb, for in those days girls younger than she were given in marriage. But since at the same time Hugo knew of what stock