Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/556

 "By the lance and the spurs of Saint George, it is the Germans! for if the Cross should prevail here they would lose the excuse for invasions, and for lording it over this land and oppressing the unfortunate people. Moreover, thou hast learned them, De Lorche, and knowest better if their acts are caused by justice."

"I thought that it destroys sin to fight with Pagans, and bend them to baptism."

"But the Germans baptize them with a sword and with blood, not with the water of salvation. Read this letter, and thou wilt know straightway if thou art not serving those men of injustice, those robbers and elders of hell, against the faith and the love of the Saviour."

And he handed De Lorche the letter of the Jmud men to kings and princes, which letter had been sent around everywhere. De Lorche took the letter and began to run his eyes over it near the firelight.

He read it quickly, for reading was no strange trick to him; he was astonished beyond measure.

"Is all this true?" asked he.

"It is, so help me, and thee, God! who knows best that I am serving, not my own cause alone, but the cause also of justice."

De Lorche was silent for a time, and then said,—

"I am your prisoner."

"Give thy hand," replied Zbyshko. "Thou art my brother, not my prisoner."

So they gave their right hands to each other and sat down to a common supper, which Hlava had commanded the attendants to make ready. During the meal De Lorche learned with no less astonishment that Zbyshko, in spite of the letters, had not discovered Danusia, and that the comturs had denied the validity of his safe-conduct because of the outbreak of war.

"Now I understand why thou art here," said he, "and I thank God that He gave me to thee as a prisoner, for I think that the Knights of the Cross will exchange for me the one for whom thou art looking; otherwise there would be a great outcry in the West, for I come from a great family."

Here he struck his hand on his cap suddenly, and said,—

"By all the relics in Aix La Chapelle! At the head of the reinforcements which were moving toward Gotteswerder were Arnold von Baden and old Siegfried de Löwe. We