Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/599

 Rh "She is found. They have rescued her."

"Praised be Jesus Christ!"

But in spite of these words Yagenka's face became as if frozen, for all her hopes were scattered to dust in one moment. But strength did not leave her; she did not lose presence of mind; after a while she mastered herself perfectly, and asked,—

"When will they be here?"

"After some days. The road with a sick woman is difficult."

"Is she sick?"

"Tortured to death. Her mind is disturbed from suffering."

"Merciful Jesus!"

A brief silence followed, but Yagenka's lips grew pale, and moved as if in prayer.

"Did she not come to her mind in presence of Zbyshko?" asked she.

"Maybe she did, but I do not know, for I left there immediately to inform you, my lady, before they could reach Spyhov."

"God reward thee. Tell how it was."

Hlava narrated briefly how they had intercepted Danusia and captured both the giant Arnold and Siegfried. He declared too that he had brought Siegfried to Spyhov, since the young lord wished to deliver him to Yurand as a gift and for purposes of vengeance.

"I must go now to Yurand," said Yagenka when the narrative was finished.

And she went, but Hlava was not long alone, for Anulka ran out to him from a closet, and he, whether he was not entirely conscious from immense toil and weariness, or whether he was yearning for her and forgot himself the moment he saw the girl, he seized her by the waist, pressed her to his bosom, and kissed her cheeks, lips, and eyes in such a way as if long before he had told her all that is told young girls usually before such an action.

And perhaps really he had told her in spirit during his journey, for he kissed and kissed without stopping; he drew her to him with such vigor that the breath was almost stopped in her. She did not defend herself, at first because she was astonished, and then because of faintness, which was so great that she would have fallen to the floor perhaps if less powerful arms had held her. Fortunately this did not

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