Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/447

Rh were opening and closing a squeaky door, and then rubbed his strong hands along his powerful thighs, on which evidently he felt an itching. At last from his mouth came with difficulty the single word,—

"Reprobates!"

At that moment voices were heard in the entrance, the door opened suddenly, and in rushed Yagenka with her elder brother, the fourteen-year-old Yasko, who resembled her as much as if he and she had been twins.

Yagenka, hearing from peasants of Zgorzelitse, who on the road had seen an escort, that certain people led by Hlava were going to Bogdanets, was frightened in just the same way as Matsko, and when she heard still further that they had not seen Zbyshko, she was almost certain that something evil had happened, hence she flew with one breath to Bogdanets to learn the truth of the matter.

"What has happened? By the dear God!" cried she from the threshold.

"What could happen?" answered Matsko. "Zbyshko is alive and well."

Hlava sprang toward his lady, and dropping on one knee, kissed the hem of her garment; she took no note of this whatever, for when she heard the answer of the old knight she turned her head from the fire to the shadow, and only after a while, as if recalling that she ought to give greeting, she said,—

"May Christ Jesus be praised!"

"For the ages of ages," answered Matsko.

But now, noticing Hlava at her knees, she bent toward him, and said,—

"I rejoice from my soul, Hlava, to see thee, but why hast thou left thy lord?"

"He sent me hither, gracious lady."

"What did he command?"

"He commanded me to come to Bogdanets."

"To Bogdanets,—and what more?"

"He sent me for help, with a greeting and a bow—"

"To Bogdanets, and nothing more? Then it is well. But where is he himself?"

"He has gone to Malborg, to the Knights of the Cross."

Alarm was evident on Yagenka's face.

"Is life then not dear to him? Why did he go?"

"To seek, gracious lady, that which he will not find."

"I believe he will not find it!" added Matsko. "As thou