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38 Zbyshko. He had no doubt that Zbyshko would mourn long for Danusia, whom he loved beyond all people, and would weep long after her; but he had no doubt either that if a girl like Yagenka were there at his side she would have her own effect. He remembered the young man, though his heart was tearing away beyond the pine woods of Mazovia, was taken by shivers when close to Yagenka. For these reasons, and believing also profoundly that Danusia had perished, he had thought more than once that in case the abbot died he would not send away Yagenka. But since he was somewhat greedy of earthly goods, he was concerned about property left by the abbot. The abbot had been angry at them, it is true, and had said that he would will them nothing; but might not compunction have come before death to him? That he had left something to Yagenka was certain, for more than once he had mentioned that fact in Zgorzelitse; through Yagenka it might also not miss Zbyshko. So at times a desire seized Matsko to tarry in Plotsk to learn the how and what, and occupy himself with that business; but he soon put an end to these thoughts. "I shall be here," said he, "bothering about property, and my boy may be stretching his hands from some dungeon of the Order, and awaiting salvation from his uncle." True, there was one escape: to leave Yagenka under the guardianship of the princess and the bishop, with the entreaty not to let her be wronged in case the abbot had willed her some property. But that idea did not please Matsko in anyway. "As it is, the girl has a good fortune," said he to himself; "if she inherits from the abbot, some Mazovian will take her, as God is in heaven, and she will not hold out long either, for even Zyh said that she was as if walking on live coals of fire." And the old knight was frightened at this idea, for he thought that in that way Danusia and Yagenka both might miss Zbyshko, and for aught on earth he would not have that come to pass.

"Let him have the one God has predestined, but one of these two he must take."

He determined first of all to save Zbyshko, and if he had to part with Yagenka he would leave her in Spyhov, or with Princess Danuta, not in Plotsk, where the court was incomparably more brilliant, and where there were handsome knights in good number.

Burdened with these thoughts he went with brisk steps toward the weaver's to announce to Yagenka the death of the abbot, but he promised in soul not to tell her