Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/625

 Rh Father Kaleb repeated these words to Zbyshko. Matsko surely would not have been indifferent to them; but Zbyshko was a young man and thought little of property.

"On my honor," said he, "it will not be as thou sayst. Thou hast been to me both friend and brother; for thee I will take no ransom."

Then they embraced each other, feeling that a new bond had been secured between them. De Lorche smiled, and said,—

"Let it be so. Only let not the Germans know of this, for they will tremble about Matsko. And they must pay, for they will fear that if they do not I shall declare at Western courts and among the knighthood that they are glad to see foreign guests, and as it were invite them and are pleased at their arrival; but when a guest falls into captivity they forget him. And the Order needs men greatly at this moment, for Vitold is to them a terror, and still more are the Poles and King Yagello."

"Then let it be in this way," said Zbyshko. "Thou wilt stay here or wherever thou wishest in Mazovia, and I will go to Malborg for my uncle, and will feign tremendous animosity against thee."

"Do so, by Saint George!" answered De Lorche. "But first listen to what I tell thee. In Malborg they say that the King of Poland is to visit Plotsk and meet the Grand Master there or in some place upon the boundary. Knights of the Order desire this meeting greatly, for they wish to note whether the king will help Vitold, should he declare war against them openly for the Jmud land.

"Ah! they are as cunning as serpents, but in Vitold they have found their master. The Order is afraid of him, for never does it know what he is planning, or what he may work out. 'He gave Jmud to us,' say they in the Chapter, 'but by this land he holds a sword above our heads, as it were, continually. Let him utter one word,' say they, 'and rebellion is ready.' In fact, that is the case. I must go to Vitold's court when I can. Maybe it will happen me to fight in the lists there, and besides, I have heard that women of that region are of angelic beauty sometimes."

"Thou hast spoken of the coming of the Polish king to Plotsk?" said Father Kaleb.

"I have. Let Zbyshko attach himself to the royal escort. The Grand Master wishes to win Yagello and will refuse him nothing. Ye know that when the need comes no men can