Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/634

 196 of the local knighthood, of clergy and of courtiers, both of the king and the princes. Zbyshko knew many of them, especially those of Prince Yanush, and of his former acquaintances of Cracow: he saw Kron of Koziglove, Lis of Targovisko, Martsin of Vrotsimovitse, Domarat of Kobylany, and Stashko of Harbimovitse, and finally Povala of Tachev, the sight of whom pleased him specially, for he remembered the kindness which that famous knight had shown him formerly.

But he was unable to approach any man immediately, for the local knighthood of Mazovia had surrounded each of them in a close circle, inquiring of Cracow, of the court, of the amusements, of various warlike excellencies, gazing meanwhile at their brilliant dresses, their hair, the splendid curls of which were rubbed with the white of eggs to give consistency, taking from them models of manners and politeness in everything.

But Povala recognized Zbyshko, and, pushing aside the Mazovians, he approached him.

"I know thee, young man," said he, pressing his hand. "How art thou, and whence hast thou come? God bless me! I see a belt and spurs on thee. Other men wait for these till gray hairs, but thou, it seems, art serving Saint George most worthily."

"God give you happiness, noble lord!" answered Zbyshko. "Had I hurled down from his horse the best German, I should not be so glad as I am to see you in health at this moment."

"I am glad to see thee. But where is thy father?"

"That was my uncle, not my father. He is a captive among the Knights of the Cross, and I am going with ransom to release him."

"And that maiden who put a veil on thee?"

Zbyshko made no answer, he only raised his eyes, which filled with tears in one moment, seeing which the lord of Tachev said,—

"This is a vale of tears, a real vale of tears, nothing else. But let us go to a bench under the service-tree; there thou wilt tell thy sad adventures."

And he drew him to a corner of the courtyard. Zbyshko sat down at his side and told of Yurand's misfortunes, of the seizure of Danusia, how he had sought her, and how she had died after he had rescued her. Povala listened carefully, and on his face were seen in turn wrath, amazement,