Chapter 40 Chapter Six

During the discussion, the Duke first said the following words: "Unfortunately we don't have any written evidence or witnesses against these 'Commuters'. Although our suspicions may be correct, and I myself think that no one but them will take away Jurand's daughter, but What's the use of that? They'll deny it. What shall I give the Grand Master if he wants evidence? Why! Even Jurand's letter is in their favor." And here he said to Zbyszko: "You say they forced him to write this letter by threats. It is possible, and there is no doubt, because if justice is on their side, then in your duel with Rotgier, God will It won't help you. But since they forced two letters, they will force two letters. Perhaps they still have evidence from Jurand that they didn't take away the misfortune at all. girl. If so, they can give such evidence to the Grand Master, so what then?"

"Why, my good lord, they themselves admit that they took Danusia from the robbers, and that she is with them now." "I know that. But now they say they were mistaken, that it was another girl, and the proof is that Jurand himself does not admit it is her." "He didn't recognize her because they showed him another girl, and he got annoyed. "Of course it is, but they can say that these are just our guesses." "Their lies," said Mykolai of Drugolas, "are like a pine forest. Looking from one side, you see a path, but the further you go in, the thicker it grows, so that you Take the fork in the road and get totally lost."

He repeated the words in German to M. de Rausch, who said: "The Grand Master himself is better than them, and his brother is also better. Although he is a reckless person, he still takes care of the honor of the Knights." "That's right," Mikolaj supported him. "The head of the regiment is more kind. But he can't restrain the priests and those 'comto's. Although he doesn't approve of things that harm others and benefit himself, what can he do? Go, go, De Rausch Tell him, knight, what has happened here. They are more ashamed before foreigners than we are, and they are afraid that their atrocities and breaches of faith will be talked about at foreign courts. In case the Grand Master asks you for evidence , say to him thus: 'God alone knows the truth, and the world should seek the truth, so if you want evidence, go find it: go search all the castles, interrogate the people in them, let us search, you know It is a foolish lie to say that the orphan was kidnapped by mountain bandits.'”

"Stupid lie!" repeated de Lauches. "Because the brigands dare not attack the Duke's court, nor rob Jurand's daughter. If they take her, it is only for ransom, and they themselves will come and inform us that she is in their possession." "I will tell all these words," said the knight of Rothlinger, "and find de Bergoff. We are all fellow countrymen, and although I don't know him, I have heard that he is Geert. A relative of the Duke of Ri. He was in Scittno, and he ought to have told the Grand Master what he had seen." Zbyszko also understood some of his words; what he did not understand was explained to him by Mikolaj; and he hugged Monsieur de Lauches so tightly that the knight groaned sickly.

The prince asked Zbyszko again: "Then you must go?" "I must go, Your Gracious Highness. What else can I do? I swore I would take Shitno, even if I gnawed at its walls with my teeth, but I didn't get permission. How can I start a war on my own?" "Whoever starts a war without authorization will repent at the executioner's sword," said the duke. "Of course it is an absolute law," replied Zbyszko. "Ah! I was going to challenge all the people in Scittno, but people say that Jurand slaughtered them like cattle, and I don't know how many people are still alive. . . . But I swear to God and the Holy Cross , I will try my best not to leave Jurand alone!"

"That's a bold statement, admiration," said Mikolaj of Drugolas. "It also shows that you have the sense not to go to Scittno alone, because even a fool would know that they would never leave Jurand and his daughter there, but must have sent them to another castle. Go. So here God rewards you with Rotji love." "Yes!" said the duke, "we have also heard from Rotgier that of these four only old Siegfried is still alive, and that the other three have been given by God through your hand or Jurand's." As for Siegfried, he is a little better than the rest of the rascals, but perhaps a crueler thug. The bad thing is that both Jurand and Danusia are in his hands, and they must soon Rescue them. In order to prevent you from accidents, I will give you a letter to take to the Grand Master. Remember, listen to me carefully, you are not going as an emissary, but on my behalf. This is what I wrote to the Grand Master: Since they had tried to harm me, a descendant of their benefactor, they must have taken Jurand's daughter, especially since they have Hatred. I therefore ask the Grand Master to order a strict search for this girl, and if he really wants to gain my friendship, he should immediately return her to your hands."

When Zbyszko heard this, he fell on his knees at the prince's feet, embraced them, and said: "But what about Jurand, my lord, what about Jurand? Please intercede for him too! If he is mortally wounded, at least let him die in his own house, with his children. Together." "I also mentioned Jurand in my letter," said the prince kindly. "According to the rules of the knight's honor, he will appoint two judges, and I will also appoint two judges to investigate the actions of these 'Comto' and Jurand. They can choose one person to preside over this jury, and the matter will be up to them Decide."

The deliberations were thus concluded, and Zbyszko took leave of the prince, for he was about to leave.But before he left, Mykolaj of Drugolas, who was experienced and well acquainted with the Knights of the Crusader, called Zbyszko aside and asked: "Are you going to take that Czech squire with you to the Germans?" "Of course he can't do without me. What's the matter?" "I'm sorry for the lad. He was a useful fellow to you, but just mark my words: Unless you meet a better man than you in a duel, you will come back from Marlborough safe and sound, but he It will be impossible to survive.”

"why?" "Because the dog mages accused him of stabbing de Fauci to death. They must have reported de Fauci's death to the Grand Master, and they would have said it was the Czech who killed him. They decided in Marburg Will not let this go. Judgment and punishment awaits him, for how can you prove his innocence to the Grand Master? Besides, he even wrung Dunvelt's arm off, but Deng Wilt is a relative of the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller. I am very worried about him, and I repeat, if he goes with you, he will definitely die." "He must not die: I will keep him in Spychof."

But things changed later; for some reason the Czechs did not stay in Spychof.Zbyszko and de Lauuch set off the next morning with their retinue.De Lauche rode away cheerfully after the abbe Vishoniac had broken off his engagement to Ulrika de Ernay, thinking of Jagienka of Drugolas.So keep silent.Zbyszkosan could not talk to him about Danusia (for they did not know each other very well), but only Hlava, who until now knew nothing of the planned penetration into the Teutonic lands. thing. "I'm going to Marlborough," he said, "but God knows when I'll come back...maybe soon, in the spring, maybe in a year, maybe not at all, you know?"

"I understand. Your Excellency must have gone to challenge the knights there, right? Thank God, fortunately every knight has an attendant!" "No," replied Zbyszko. "I'm not going to challenge them, unless it's absolutely necessary; but you can't go with me, you'll stay in Spyhof." The Czech, at first restless, grumbled sadly at this, and begged his young lord not to leave him. "I swear that I will never leave you. I swear by the cross, by my honour. If something should happen to your lord, how shall I go to Miss Zgotrilici! I swear to her, My lord! therefore have pity on me, and do not disgrace me before her." "Didn't you swear to her that you would obey my orders?" asked Zbyszko. "Of course! I have sworn. Obey everything, but don't let me leave you. If your lordship sends me away, I will follow at a distance, so that if necessary, I can be close to you. " "I won't send you away, and I don't want to," replied Zbyszko, "but if I can't send you anywhere, not even on a small errand, if I I can't stand not being away from you even for a day. You can't keep pinning me down like an executioner pins down a good man! As for fighting, how can you help me? I don't mean war, because in war All men fight; and as for a one-on-one duel, you certainly cannot serve me. If Rotgier was better than me, his armor would not be in my chariot, but mine His carriage is in. And besides, I will have more trouble if I take you, and you will only expose me to danger." "Why is this so, sir?" Zbyszko then told him what he had heard from Mikolaj of Drugolas, that the "Commuters" would never admit that they had killed de Fauci, and therefore only Blame it on him, take revenge on him. "If they catch you," he said at last, "then of course I can't lose you to them. Maybe I'll lose my head for you." The Czech was very unhappy when he heard this, because he thought his master was right; but he still wanted to try to make other arrangements according to his wishes. "But those who saw me are dead, because, according to them, some were killed by the old lord of Spyhof, and Rotgier was killed by you." "The grooms who were not far behind you at that time saw you. The old crusader knight is still alive, and he must be in Marlborough now. Even if he is not there now, he will definitely come. God bless, grand master He must be summoned." The Czechs had nothing to say, so they rode silently up to Spykhov.Arriving there, it was found that all preparations were made for war, for old Tolima expected that either the Crusader knights would attack the little castle, or that Zbyszko would lead them to rescue the old lord as soon as he returned.Whether it is on the various passages in the swamp or inside the castle, there are guards everywhere.The peasants were armed, and as war was nothing new to them, they eagerly awaited the arrival of the Germans, hoping for good spoils. Father Kaleb received Zbyszko and De Rausch at the castle.As soon as supper was over, he showed them the parchment document stamped with Jurand's seal, which was the will written by the priest himself and dictated by the knight of Spyhof. "It was a will he dictated to me," he said, "on the very night he went to Scittno, and—he didn't expect to return then." "But why didn't you tell me about it at all?" "I can't say, because he told me his will at the time of confession. May God grant him eternal peace, and may the glory of the kingdom of heaven shine on him..." "Don't pray for him, he's still alive. I know that from the crusader, Rotgier, with whom I fought a duel at the duke's court. God judged us, and I put him Killed." "Then Jurand will not come back...unless God helps! "I will go with the knight and take him from them." "It seems that you haven't learned the cruelty of the crusader knights, but I have, because I was priest with them for fifteen years before Jurand brought me to Spyhof. Only God can do that." Jurand was saved." "God can help us too." "Amen!" So he opened the will and read it.Jurand left all her estates and lands to Danusia and her descendants, but if she died childless, to her husband Zbyszko of Bogdaniec.He finally proposed to entrust his will to the Duke to supervise its execution: if there was anything illegal, let the Duke legalize it.This was added because Father Kaleb knew only canon law, and Jurand himself, who had been devoted to war, only knew the rules of knighthood.After the priest had read the will to Zbyszko, and then to the officers of the Spychow garrison, they immediately recognized the young knight as their master and pledged their allegiance to him. The officers thought that Zbyszko would soon lead them to rescue their old master, they were all brave and thirsty for war, and they also had Jurand in mind.But when they heard that they should remain at home, and that the young master had gone up to Marlborough with only a few attendants, and not to fight, but to sue, they were all very displeased. Grovatsch the Czech was as displeased as they were, though he was very happy that Zbyszko had increased his fortune so much. "Hey! who would be happy," he said, "not the old lord of Bogdaniec! He can manage the place! What is Bogdaniec compared to such an estate!" Zbyszko suddenly thought of his uncle, as he often does, especially in difficult moments of life; and turning to the squire, he said without hesitation: "Why are you idle here! Go to Bogdaniec and send me a letter." "If you don't take me with you, I'd rather go there!" replied the squire happily. "Father Kaleb, please come and write down everything that happened here, and this letter can be read to my uncle by the priest of Kirsisnya, or by the abbot, if he is in Zgotrilici. if." But after he said that, he stroked his mustache with his hand, and added, as if talking to himself: "Oh! Abbot! . . . " Jagienka suddenly appeared before him, blue eyes, black hair, tall and beautiful, with tears on the lashes!Feeling a little perplexed, he wiped his forehead with his hand and said to himself: "You will be sorry, girl, but not any more than I am." At this moment Father Kaleb came and sat down to write a letter.Zbyszko dictated to him in detail everything that had happened since his arrival at the Forest Palace.He didn't hide anything, because he knew that old Macko would be happy when he found out.How could Bogdaniec compare with Spyhof, who was a rich estate, and Zbyszko knew that Macko was very fond of wealth. When Father Kaleb had painstakingly written and sealed the letter, Zbyszko called his squire again, handed him the letter and said: "Perhaps you can come back with my uncle, and I should be very glad." But the Czech looked troubled; he hesitated for a moment, moved his feet to and fro, but did not move, and then the young knight said: "If you have anything else to say, just say it." "I think you..." replied the Czech, "I want to ask you again, what should I tell people?" "To whom?" "Not those from Bogdaniec, but the neighborhood... because they want to know the details too!" Zbyszko, determined not to hide anything from him, cast a quick glance at him at this, and said: "You care about no one else but Jagienka of Zgotrilitri." The Czech blushed suddenly, then turned pale again, and replied: "I mean her, my lord!" "And how do you know she's not married to Khitan of Rogoff, or Wilk of Borzodova?" "The lady will never marry," replied the squire firmly. "The abbot may have ordered her to be married long ago." "It is the abbot who obeys the orders of the lady, not the lady who obeys his orders." "Then what do you want to do? You can only tell her the truth like you do to everyone." The Czech bowed and walked away a little annoyed. "May God," he said to himself, thinking of Zbyszko, "make her forget you. May God give her a better man than you. But if she doesn't forget you, I'll tell you." She, you were married but without a wife, and you were a widower before you entered your new house." The squire loved Zbyszko and sympathized with Danusia, but he loved Jagienka more than anyone else in the world, so from before his duel at Ciechanov I heard that Zbyszko From the time Piszko was married, he had been suffering and heartbroken. "I wish you were a widower!" he repeated. But after a while he had some apparently milder thoughts, for as he went to the stable he said: "Bless God, at least I will kneel at her feet!" At this moment Zbyszko was in a hurry to set off, for he could not restrain himself with excitement--he was more distressed by the necessary affairs which preoccupied him, and he was constantly thinking of Danusia and Jurand.But in order for M. de Lauches to rest and prepare for the long journey, he must spend at least one night in Spiehof.He was at last worn out from the duel, from the whole day of the tourney, from the travel, from lack of sleep, from worry.So after supper he threw himself on Jurand's hard bed, hoping to sleep at least for a while.But before he fell asleep, Sanders knocked at the door and came in, bowing and saying: "Monseigneur, you saved my life, and I live with you in a more comfortable life than I have ever known. Now that God has kicked you out of a great fortune, you are richer than ever, not to mention Spychoff's The treasury is not empty. Sir, give me a purse, I am going to Prussia, from castle to castle, and though I may not be very safe there, I may be of service to you." Zbyszko really wanted to throw him out of the room at first, but after thinking it over, he took a rather large purse from the bag beside his bed, threw it to Sandrus, and said: "Here, go! If you're a scoundrel, it's a fraud; if you're an honest man—you'll be at your service." "I will deceive others like a rascal," Sanders replied, "but not you, I will serve you honestly."