Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/743

 Rh "Yes. After the death of Mikolai, and of his son, who was killed at Bobrovniki, Dlugolyas came to the wonderful Yagenka, who for the last five years is my wife and lady. "

"In God's name!" cried Zybshko, "tell how all this happened to thee!"

But De Lorche, greeting old Matsko, said,—

"Your former armor-bearer, Hlava, told me that I should find you both here, and now he is waiting in my tent, and is watching over the supper. True, it is far from here, since it is at the other end of the camp, but we will pass quickly on horseback—so come with me."

Then turning to Povala, with whom he had become acquainted formerly at Plotsk, he added,—

"And you, noble sir. It will be an honor and a happiness for me."

"Very well," answered Povala. "It is pleasant to converse with acquaintances; and besides, we shall look at the camp."

And they went out to mount their horses. But before mounting, De Lorche's servant put the cloak on his shoulders, which evidently he had brought on purpose. When this man approached Zbyshko, he kissed his hand, and said,—

"An obeisance and honor to you, lord. I am your servant of years ago, but you cannot recognize me in the dark. Do you not remember Sanderus?"

"As God is dear to me!" cried Zbyshko.

At that moment was renewed in him the remembrance of past pains and sorrows, and of former misfortunes, just as a couple of weeks before, when the troops of the king joined the regiments of the princes of Mazovia, and he met his former armor-bearer Hlava after a long interval. So he said,—

"Sanderus! Well, I remember those former times and thee! What hast thou done since those days, and where hast thou been? Art thou bearing relics about yet?"

"No, lord. Till last spring I was a sexton at the church in Dlugolyas, but as my late father occupied himself with the military art, when the war broke out brass on the church bell-towers became disgusting to me, and the desire for steel and iron was roused in me—"

"What do I hear?" cried Zbyshko, who somehow could not imagine to himself Sanderus standing up to battle, with a sword, or a spear, or an axe in his hand.

But, while holding the stirrup for him, Sanderus said,—

"A year ago, at command of the Bishop of Plotsk, I went

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