Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/98

74 mercy. Any excitement may easily bring her to grievous illness; her health means more for the whole kingdom than the lives of ten knights." He declared, finally, that if any one dared to disturb the lady in spite of his words, he would bring down on that person the terrible wrath of the king, and lay also the curse of the Church on him or her.

Both princesses feared this declaration, and resolved to be silent before the queen, but to implore the king until he showed some favor. The whole court and all the knights were on the side of Zbyshko. Povala asserted that he would confess the whole truth, but would give testimony favorable to the young man, and would represent the entire affair as the impulsiveness of a boy. Still, every one foresaw, and the castellan of Cracow declared openly, that, if the German insisted, stern justice must have its own.

The hearts of knights rose with growing indignation against Lichtenstein, and more than one thought, or even said openly: "He is an envoy and cannot be summoned to the barriers, but when he returns to Malborg, may God not grant him to die his own death." And those were no idle threats, for it was not permitted belted knights to drop a vain word; whoso said a thing must show its truth or perish. The terrible Povala proved the most stubborn, for he had in Tachev a beloved little daughter of Danusia's age; therefore Danusia's tears crushed the heart in him utterly.

In fact, he visited Zbyshko that very day in the dungeon, commanded him to be of good cheer, told him of the prayers of both princesses and the tears of Danusia. Zbyshko, when he heard that the girl had thrown herself at the feet of the king, was moved to tears, and not knowing how to express his gratitude and his longing, said, wiping his eye lids with the back of his hand,—

"Oh, may God bless her, and grant me a struggle on foot or on horseback for her sake as soon as possible. I promised her too few Germans,—for to such a one was due a number equal to her years. If the Lord Jesus will rescue me from these straits I will not be stingy with her;" and he raised his eyes full of gratitude.

"First vow something to a church," said the lord of Tachev, "for if thy vow be pleasing to God thou wilt be free of a certainty. And second, listen: Thy uncle has gone to Lichtenstein, and I will go too. There would be no shame for thee to ask forgiveness, for thou art at fault; and