Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/458

20 for neither one found an answer immediately. Matsko raised the goblet of mead to his lips, drank it, then talked on as calmly and comfortably as if both had been his most intimate well-wishers,—

"Now I will tell you sincerely from whom I expect the greatest damage. From no one except Stan of Rogov. Of you, though we separated in unfriendliness, I should have no fear, because you are knightly people, who will stand up before the eyes of an enemy but will take no unseemly revenge behind his back. Oh, with you it is something different. A knight is a knight!—but Stan is a clown, and from a clown a man may expect anything; all the more since, as you know, he is terribly angry at me because I stood between him and Yagenka."

"Whom you are saving for your nephew!" burst out young Vilk.

Matsko looked at the youth, and for a while held him under his cool glance; after that he turned to the old man, and said calmly,—

"You know my nephew has married a young heiress of Mazovia, and has received a worthy dowry."

Again followed a silence which was still deeper; the father and son looked for some time at Matsko with open mouths. At last the old man said,—

"Hei, how is that? For people said— 'Will you tell about it?'"

"It is just on that business," continued Matsko, as if paying no heed to the question," that I must go, and therefore I beg you to look in from time to time at Bogdanets, and let no one do any harm there, and do you, as worthy and honest neighbors, protect me, especially from Stan's attacks."

By this time young Vilk, whose mind was sufficiently nimble, considered at once that if Zbyshko had married it was better for him to have Matsko's friendship, since Yagenka had confidence in the old man, and was ready to follow his advice in all things. Entirely new horizons opened at once before the eyes of the young water-burner. "I must do more than keep from opposing Matsko, I must have his favor," said he to himself. And, though somewhat in liquor, he stretched his hand under the table quickly, caught his father's knee, and pressed it as a sign not to say anything improper.

"Have no fear of Stan!" said he to Matsko. "Oho, let