Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/590

 152 "Gentlemen, do you invite me as a guest or as a prisoner?"

Arnold's brother was ashamed, for he halted and said,—

"Pass on, sir."

The old knight went ahead, but not wishing to wound the vanity of a man who to him might be greatly important, he said,—

"It is evident, sir, that you know not only various languages, but polite intercourse."

Arnold understood only a few words. "Wolfgang," asked he, "what is the question? What is he saying?"

"He talks sensibly," answered Wolfgang, who was flattered by Matsko's words, evidently.

They sat at the fire, to which food and drink were brought. The lesson given the Germans by Matsko was not lost, for Wolfgang ordered to serve him first. In conversation the old knight learned how he and his nephew had been caught: Wolfgang, a younger brother of Arnold, was leading the Chluhov infantry to Gotteswerder, also against the insurgent Jmud men. As they came from a distant province they had failed to come up with the cavalry. Arnold had no need to wait for them, knowing that on the road he would meet other mounted divisions from towns and castles near the Lithuanian boundary; for this reason the younger brother came somewhat later, and was on the road in the neighborhood of the tarpits when the serving-woman who had fled in the night-time, informed him of the mishap which had met his elder brother. Arnold, listening to that narrative, which was repeated to him in German, laughed with satisfaction, and declared at last that he had hoped things would turn out so; but the experienced Matsko, who in every strait tried to find some relief, thought it useful to win those two Germans; so he said,—

"It is always grievous to fall into captivity, but I am grateful that God has not given me into other hands, for, by my faith, you are real knights who observe honor."

At this Wolfgang closed his eyes and nodded, rather stiffly, it is true, but with evident satisfaction.

"And you know our speech so well," continued Matsko. "God, I see, has given you a mind for everything."

"I know your language, for in Chluhov the people talk Polish. My brother and I have served seven years there under the comtur."

"And you will receive his office after him; it cannot be