Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/671

 Rh Further conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Zyndram and Povala, who, since they had heard of Matsko's fainting fit, had come to visit him.

"Praised be Jesus Christ!" said Zyndram, when he had crossed the threshold. "How is it with you to-day?"

"God reward you! In a small way. Zbyshko says that if the wind were to blow around me. I should be well immediately."

"Why should you not? You will be well! All will be well," put in Povala.

"Besides, I have rested thoroughly. Not like your Graces, who, as I hear, rose early."

"First people came to us to claim prisoners," said Zyndram, "and afterward we examined the management of the Order,—in the First Castle and the other castles."

"Firm management, and firm castles!" muttered Matsko.

"Surely they are firm. In the church there are ornaments in the Arabic style; the Knights said that they had learned that style from the Saracens in Sicily, and in the castles are special rooms on pillars which stand alone, or in clusters. You will see yourselves the great refectory. The fortress is tremendous in all its parts, such a fortress as there is in no other place. Such walls a stone cannon-ball, though the greatest, could not bite in any way. By my faith, there is pleasure in looking at it."

Zyndram said this so joyously that Matsko looked at him with astonishment, and asked,—

"But their wealth and good order, and troops, and guests, have you looked at them?"

"They showed us all, as if through friendliness, but really to make the hearts sink in us."

"Well, and what?"

"Well, God grant that when war comes we shall drive them from here, beyond the mountains and seas,—to the place whence they came."

Matsko, forgetting his sickness at that moment, sprang to his feet in astonishment.

"How is this, lord?" asked he. "Men say that you have a quick mind. As to me, I grew faint when I saw what their power is. In God's name, whence do you get your conviction?"

Here he turned to his nephew.

"Zbyshko, command to bring wine, that which they sent us. Sit down, your Graces, and talk, since a better cure