Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/483

Rh "I did this because I have made a vow touching that Knight, and I must fight with him. I could not in any way attack the life of a man who rendered me a service. It is not our custom to strike a benefactor."

"But it is a pity to lose the beautiful goblet," answered Hlava a little rebelliously.

"I do nothing without calculation, have no fear. If the merciful Lord Jesus permits me to bring down that German I shall win back the goblet, and capture a multitude of other costly things with it."

Then the two men, and with them Yagenka, began to counsel as to what they should do. It came to Matsko's mind to leave Yagenka and Anulka in Plotsk with Princess Alexandra, and to do so because of the abbot's will, which was deposited with the bishop; but the girl opposed this with all her unbending decision. It is true that it would have been easier to travel without her, for there would be no need of finding separate rooms, or thinking of ceremony, or danger, or various other things of similar import. However, they had not left Zgorzelitse to stay in Plotsk. The will in the bishop's hands would not be lost, and should it appear that the maidens must stay on the road somewhere, they would be safer in the care of Princess Anna than Alexandra, for at her court the people cared less for the Knights of the Cross, and were more inclined to Zbyshko. It is true that Matsko said, touching this, that wit does not belong to woman, and that it is not proper to argue with a girl, as if she had real reason; he did not oppose decisively, however, and soon yielded, for Yagenka drew him aside and said, with tearful eyes,—

"You know—God is looking at my heart—that I pray morning and evening for Danusia, yes, and for Zbyshko's happiness. God in heaven knows best of all the truth of this! But Hlava, and you too, declare that she is lost, that she will not escape from the hands of the Knights alive. If this be so, then I—"

Here she hesitated somewhat, the tears collected, flowed slowly down her cheeks, and she ended in a whisper,—

"Then I wish to be near Zbyshko—"

Those tears and words touched Matsko; still he answered,—

"If she perishes, Zbyshko will be so grieved that he will not look at thee."

"I do not want him to look at me, but I want to be near him."