Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/84

60 and before he had come in front of the altar it was possible to observe him well. He had black hair, dishevelled and growing somewhat thin above his forehead; at the sides it was put back over his ears; his face was dark, entirely shaven, nose aquiline and rather pointed; around his mouth there were wrinkles; his eyes were black, small, and glittering. He looked on every side, as if he wished before reaching the front of the altar to make estimate of all people in the church. His countenance had a kindly expression, but also the watchful one of a man who, elevated by fortune beyond his own hopes, has to think continually whether his acts correspond to his office, and who fears malicious blame. But for this reason specially there was in his face and his movements a certain impatience. It was easy to divine that his anger must be sudden, and that he was always that same prince who, roused by the wiles of the Knights of the Cross, had cried to their envoys: "Thou strikest at me with a parchment, but I at thee with a dart!"

Now, however, a great and sincere piety restrained his native quick temper. Not only the newly converted princes of Lithuania, but also Polish magnates, pious from the example of grandfather and great-grandfather, were edified at sight of the king in the church. Often he put the cushion aside, and knelt, for greater mortification, on the bare stones; often he raised his hands, and held them raised till they fell of themselves from fatigue. He heard at least three masses daily, and heard them almost with eagerness. The exposure of the chalice and the sound of the bell at the Elevation always filled his soul with ecstasy, enthusiasm, and awe. At the end of mass he went forth from the church as if he had been roused from sleep, calmed and mild; soon courtiers discovered that that was the best time to beg him for gifts or forgiveness.

Yadviga entered by the sacristy door. Knights nearest the stalls, when they saw her, though mass had not begun, knelt at once, yielding involuntary honor to her, as to a saint. Zbyshko did the same, for in all that congregation no one doubted that he had really before him a saint, whose image would in time adorn the altars of churches. More especially during recent years the severe penitential life of Yadviga had caused this, that besides the honor due a queen, they rendered her honor well-nigh religious. From mouth to mouth among lords and people passed reports of miracles wrought by her. It was said that the touch of her hand cared the sick; that people deprived of strength in their members