Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/389

Rh hand, and evidently he was conversing with his conscience, and was thinking of himself solely, for he said after a while,—

"On me also much human blood is weighing, much pain, many tears—I, too, when it was a question of the Order and when I saw that I could not succeed through strength alone, had no hesitation in seeking other methods; but when I stand before the Lord I shall say to Him: 'I did that for the Order, but in my own case my choice was this.'"

And when he had spoken he opened the dark garment covering his bosom, under that garment a haircloth appeared.

Then he seized his temples with his two hands, turned his face and eyes upward, and cried,—

"Renounce luxury and dissoluteness, strengthen your hearts and bodies, for up there I see white eagle plumes in the air, and eagle talons with the blood of Knights of the Cross on them."

Further words were interrupted by a sweep of the tempest, which was so terrible that a window above the gallery opened with a crash, and the entire hall was filled with the howling and whistling of wind, bearing snowflakes.

"In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! This is an evil night," said the old man.

"A night when foul spirits have power," answered Rotgier.

"But are there priests with Danveld's body?"

"There are."

"He left the world without absolution—O God, be merciful to him!"

And both were silent. Then Rotgier called attendants and commanded them to close the window and trim the torches. When they had gone he inquired again,—

"What will you do with Yurand's daughter? Will you take her to Insburg?"

"I will take her to Insburg, and dispose of her as the good of the Order demands."

"Well, what am I to do?"

"Hast thou courage in thy soul?"

"What have I done to cause you doubt on that point?"

"I doubt not, for I know thee and I love thee as a son because of thy manfulness. Go then to the court of the Mazovian prince and relate to him all that has happened here, just as we have described it between us."

"I may expose myself to certain destruction."