Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/88

64 those few words which in his soul meant, "Give our beloved lady health, and life, and happiness—and think more of her than of all others." And since this was said by a man over whose head judgment and punishment were hanging, there was not in that whole church a more sincere prayer.

At the end of mass Zbyshko thought that if it were permitted him to stand before the queen, fall on his face and embrace her feet, then even let the end of the world come. But the first mass was followed by a second, and then a third; after that the lady went to her apartments, for usually she fasted till mid-day, and took no part in joyful breakfasts at which, for the amusement of the king and guests, jesters and jugglers appeared. But old Pan Mikolai came and summoned him to the princess.

"At the table thou wilt serve me and Danusia, as my attendant," said the princess; "and may it be granted thee to please the king with some amusing word or act, by which thou wilt win his heart to thyself. If the German knight recognizes thee, perhaps he will not make a complaint, seeing that at the king's table thou art serving me."

Zbyshko kissed the princess's hand, then turned to Danusia, and though he was more used to war and battles than to courtly customs, he knew evidently what a knight ought to do on seeing the lady of his thoughts in the morning, for he stepped back and assuming an expression of surprise exclaimed, while making the sign of the cross,—

"In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!"

"But why does Zbyshko make the sign of the cross?" inquired Danusia, raising her blue eyes to him.

"Because, lovely damsel, so much beauty has been added to thee that I wonder."

But Pan Mikolai, as an old man, did not like new foreign knightly customs, hence he shrugged his shoulders, and said,—

"Why wilt thou lose time for nothing and talk about her beauty? That is a chit which has hardly risen above the earth."

Zbyshko looked at him immediately with indignation.

"You are mad to call her that," said he, growing pale from anger. "Know this, that if your years were less I would command at once to trample earth behind the castle, and let my death or yours come!"

"Be quiet, stripling! I could manage thee even to-day!"