Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/323

Rh perhaps, too, the princess began to be alarmed somewhat because they were so long in appearing. The storm was becoming more cruel out of doors, and all said that the man found in the open field by it might remain there. Another supposition also occurred to the princess, namely, that Danusia had confessed to her father that she had been married to Zbyshko, and Yurand, being offended, had resolved not to come to Tsehanov at all. She did not wish, however, to confide these thoughts to Zbyshko, and there was not even time for it, since the young men in waiting had begun to bring in the food and place it on the table. But Zbyshko hastened to fall at her feet again, and ask,—

"But if they come, gracious lady, how will it be? Pan Mrokota has told me that there is a separate division for Yurand, where there will be hay beds for the attendants. But how will it be?"

The princess laughed, and striking him lightly on the face with her gloves, said,—

"Be quiet! Wait till you see him!"

And she went to the prince, for whom the armor-bearers had already arrayed his chair, so that he might take his seat. Before doing that, however, one of them gave him a flat dish filled with thin strips of cake and bits of meat to be divided by the prince among guests, courtiers, and servants. Another similar one was held for the princess by a beautiful youth, the son of the Castellan of Sohachev. At the opposite side of the table stood Father Vyshonek, who was to bless the supper set out upon sweetly smelling hay.

In the door at this moment appeared a man covered with snow, who called aloud,—

"Gracious lord!"

"What?" asked the prince, not glad that the ceremony was interrupted.

"On the Radzanov road are travellers covered up in the snow. We must send more people to dig them out."

All were frightened when they heard this. The prince was alarmed, and turning to the Castellan, cried,—

"Horsemen with shovels, quickly!"

Then he turned to the man who had brought the news.

"Are many snowed in?"

"We could not discover. There is a terrible darkness in the air. There are sleighs and horses, a considerable escort."

"Do ye not know whose they are?"

"People say that it is the heir of Spyhov."