Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/592

 154 "Not if I were to swear on my honor, and the spear of Saint George?"

Wolfgang hesitated somewhat, for the oath was a great one, but at that moment Arnold asked him the third time, "What does he say?" And on learning what the question was he opposed passionately and rudely the liberation of both on their word. In this he found his own reckoning. He had been beaten by Skirvoillo in the greater battle, and in single combat by those Polish knights. As a soldier he knew too that his brother's infantry must return to Malborg, for if they wished to go on to Gotteswerder they would go after the destruction of the previous detachments, as if to be slaughtered. He knew, therefore, that he would have to stand before the Master and the marshal, and he understood that his disgrace would be decreased could he show even one considerable captive. One living knight whom he could present to the eye would mean more than a story stating that he had captured two.

Matsko, hearing the hoarse outburst and curses of Arnold, understood straightway that he ought to accept what they gave since he would gain nothing more, and he said, turning to Wolfgang,—

"Now I ask you for another thing; I am sure that my nephew will himself understand that he is to be with his wife, and I with you; but in every case permit me to inform him that there is no parleying in this matter, for such is your will."

"Very good; it is all one to me," answered Wolfgang; "but let us talk of the ransom which your nephew is to bring for himself and for you, since on this depends all."

"Of the ransom?" inquired Matsko, who would have deferred this conversation till another day. "Have we not time enough before us? When one has to do with a belted knight a word is the same as ready money; and as to the amount, we may leave that to conscience. Before Gotteswerder we took captive a considerable knight of yours, a certain Pan de Lorche, and my nephew, he it was who took him, let the knight go on his word, making no mention at all of the amount of the ransom."

"Did you capture De Lorche?" asked Wolfgang, quickly. "I know him; he is a wealthy knight. But why have we not met him on the road?"

"Because, as is evident, he went not to Malborg, but to Gotteswerder or Ragneta," answered Matsko.