Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/279

Rh "Speak quickly!" cried Rotgier and Gottfried.

"Listen: Yurand has a daughter here, his only child, whom he loves as the sight of his eye."

"He has; I know her. Princess Anna Danuta loves her also."

"She does. Now listen: If you were to carry off that maiden, Yurand would give for her not only Bregov, but all the prisoners, with himself and Spyhov in addition."

"By the blood of Saint Boniface shed in Dohum!" cried Brother Gottfried, "it would be as you say."

Then they were silent, as if frightened by the boldness and the difficulties of the undertaking. Only after a while did Brother Rotgier turn to Siegfried.

"Your wit and experience," said he, "are equal to your valor; what do you think of this?"

"I think it a question which deserves consideration."

"For," continued Rotgier, "the maiden is a companion of the princess; more, she is almost a beloved daughter. Think, pious brothers, what an uproar would rise."

"You have said yourself," said Hugo, laughing, "that Schaumberg smothered Vitold's whelps,—and what was done to him for doing so? They will raise an outcry for any cause; but if we should send Yurand in chains to the Master, reward would await us more certainly than punishment."

"True," said Siegfried, "there is a chance for attack. The prince will go away, Anna Danuta will remain here with only her damsels. But an attack on the prince's court in time of peace is no common matter. The prince's court is not Spyhov. Then it will be again as in Zlotoria. Again complaints will be sent to all kingdoms, and to the Pope, against the violence of the Order; again the cursed Yagello will be heard with a threat, and the Master—you know him, moreover—he is glad to take what he can, but he does not want war with Yagello. Yes! a shout would rise in all the lands of Mazovia and Poland."

"Meanwhile Yurand's bones would be bleaching on a hook," said Danveld. "Besides who tells you to snatch her away here from the court, from the side of the princess?"

"Not from Tsehanov, I hope, where in addition to nobles there are three hundred bowmen."

"No. But may not Yurand get sick, and send people for his daughter? The princess would not forbid her to go in that case, and should the girl be lost on the road, who will say to you or to me, 'Thou didst snatch her away?'"