Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/443

Rh about property, but he was concerned no less about his race, about Zbyshko's children. "If Danusia should disappear like a stone under water, and no one know whether she were dead or living, Zbyshko would not be able to marry another—and then there would be no Grady of Bogdanets in existence. Hei! with Yagenka it would be otherwise! A hen could not cover Mochydoly with her wings, nor a dog with his tail, and she would give a birth every year without missing, just like that apple-tree out in the orchard." So Matsko's sorrow surpassed his delight at the new inheritance, and from this sorrow and alarm he fell again to inquiring of Hlava how and when the marriage had been solemnized.

"I have said, respected lord," answered Hlava, "that I know not; and I will not swear to my own guesswork."

"What is thy guesswork?"

"I did not leave the young lord during his sickness, I slept in the same room with him; but one evening he commanded me to go away, and later I saw how the Gracious Lady went to him, and with her the young lady, Pan de Lorche, and Father Vyshonek. I even wondered, for the young lady had a garland on her head, but I thought that they were to give my young lord the sacrament. Maybe it was at that time. I remember that he commanded me to array him beautifully, as for a wedding, but I thought then that it was to receive the Lord's body."

"And how was it afterwards? Were they alone?"

"Ei, they were not, and even if they had been he had not strength at that time to give himself food. And people had come who announced themselves as sent by Yurand, and she went away with those people in the morning."

"Has Zbyshko seen her since then?"

"Human eye has not seen her since that day."

Silence followed.

"What dost thou think?" inquired Matsko after a while; "will the Knights of the Cross give her up?"

Hlava shook his head and waved his hand. "To my thinking she is lost forever," said he, slowly.

"Why so?" inquired Matsko, almost with fear.

"For this reason: If they were to say that they have her there would be hope; it would be possible to make a complaint, or pay a ransom, or take her by force. But they say: 'We intercepted a girl and informed Yurand. He would not own her as his daughter, and in return for our