Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/455

Rh property Vilk and Stan will not raise a finger, for they would cover themselves with dreadful infamy, and every living man would hunt them down as real wolves. But Bogdanets will be defenceless. They will fill up the moats, drive off the cattle, entice away tenants! When I return, God knows if I shall be able to recover anything; I shall have to summon them to judgment, for not the fist alone, but law rules with us. Shall I return, though, and when? With me they are terribly angry because I have stood between them and Yagenka; but if she goes with me they will be angrier."

Sorrow and regret seized the old man, for he had begun to manage Bogdanets in proper fashion, and now he felt certain that should he return he would find desolation there and ruin.

"Well, we must find a cure," thought he.

So after dinner he had a horse saddled. He mounted and rode directly to Brozova, where he arrived about nightfall. Old Vilk was sitting in his front chamber at a cup of mead; the younger Vilk, who had been slashed by Stan, lay on a bench which was covered with skins; he was drinking also. Matsko went in unobserved and stood near the threshold, stern-faced, tall, bony, unarmed, but with a strong sword at his girdle. They recognized him immediately, for the bright light of the fire struck his face, and at the first moment both father and son sprang to their feet with the speed of lightning, and rushing to the wall each seized whatever weapon was nearest.

But the experienced Matsko, knowing men and their methods through and through, was not alarmed in any way; he did not reach for his sword; he merely put his hand on his hip and asked with a calm voice in which there was a certain tone of banter,—

"What do I see? Is this the noble hospitality of Brozova?"

Their hands dropped at these words, and after a little the old man's sword fell to the floor with a clatter. Young Vilk let his lance go, and they stood with necks stretched toward Matsko; their faces ominous, but astonished, and with shame on them.

Matsko smiled.

"Praised be Jesus Christ!" said he.

"For the ages of ages," answered Vilk with his son.

"And Saint George!"

"We serve him."

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