Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/706

 268 Zbyshko removed his sad eyes from the ceiling, turned them on Matsko, and answered as if with a certain astonishment,—

"No."

"No? Fear God! I thought that when thou shouldst satisfy those saved souls, there would be an end to thy trouble."

The young man closed his eyes for a moment, as if in thought, and answered at last,—

"It is clear that souls in paradise do not wish human blood."

A moment of silence followed.

"Then why didst thou go to that war?" inquired Matsko, at last.

"Why?" answered Zbyshko, with a certain animation; "I thought that it would ease me. I thought that I should please Danusia and myself. But when all was over I was astonished. I came out of the vault where the coffins are, and I was as much oppressed as before. So it is clear that to souls in paradise human blood has no value."

"Some one must have told thee that, for never wouldst thou have thought it out thyself."

"I remarked it myself just because the world did not seem more gladsome to me afterward than before. Only Father Kaleb said,—

"'To kill an enemy in war is no sin, it is even praiseworthy,' and these were enemies of our race."

"I do not consider it a sin either, and I am not sorry for those Germans."

"But is thy grief always for Danusia?"

"Well, when I think of her I am sorry. But it is the will of God! She is happier in the court of heaven, and—I am now accustomed to my present state."

"Then why not shake off these glooms? What dost thou need?"

"If I knew what."

"Thou wilt not fail of rest, the cough will soon leave thee. Go to the bath, bathe well, drink a bottle of mead, perspire, and hots!"

"Well, and what next?"

"Thou wilt be glad right away."

"Whence shall I get gladness? I shall not find it in myself; and as to lending me gladness, no one will lend it."

"But thou art hiding something!"