Chapter 70 Chapter Thirty-Six

Zbyszko and Macko found no one at the Court in Plotsk, because the Duke and Duchess took their eight children to Tryrsk, and it was Grand Duchess Anna Danu who invited them to go.Zbyszko and the others learned from the Bishop that Jagienka had decided to stay in Spykhov's care and to see Jurand die.The news was very agreeable to them, since they were also planning to go to Spychof.Macko praised Jagienka's move, because Jurand and Jagienka were not relatives, but she would rather guard Jurand and prepare for his death than give up the life of pleasure in the court of Trersk . "Perhaps," said the old knight, "she did it on purpose, so as not to miss us. I have not seen her for a long time, and I am glad to see her, and I know she is fond of me too. The girl must be grown up now, I'm sure she looks better now than before."

"She's changed a lot," said Zbyszko. "She has always been beautiful, I only remember her as a country girl, and now she is worthy of sitting in the drawing room of a palace." "Has she changed so much? Hey! Those Yastelgebzoffs of the Zgortrichri are of an old line. Their battle cry is 'Nagotti' (Go to the Feast)!" After a moment of silence, the old knight continued: "I'm sure you're right, she'd love to go to Zgotrilitri." "It amazes me that she left there." "But what about the abbot's property? Besides, she's afraid of Chedden and Welker, and I've advised her that her brother is more peaceful there alone than with her."

"Really. They really don't bully orphans!" Macko thought for a moment. "Maybe they'll take revenge on me for taking her away, God knows if Bogdaniez left a tree behind. I don't know if I'll be able to subdue them when I go back. They're all young, strong boys, and I'm an old man." "Hey! Tell that to someone who doesn't know you," replied Zbyszko. In fact, Macko didn't quite mean it, since he was concerned with something else entirely, so he waved his hand. "If I don't get sick in Marburg," he said, "it doesn't matter—we'll talk about it when we get to Spychof."

They spent the night in Plotsk, and set off for Spykhov the next morning. The weather was fine, and the roads were dry, level, and safe; for thanks to a recent agreement, the crusading knights stopped their looting on the frontier.In fact, even without that agreement, the bandits would not dare to touch such two experienced knights.They walked quickly, and arrived in Spykhov early in the morning on the fifth day after leaving Plotsk.Jagienka, who had always regarded Macko as her closest friend in the world, welcomed him this time almost as if she were her own father; The girl was so moved by his welcome that she shed tears; and when Zbyszko asked about Jurand and went to see him, and Danusia's coffin, the old knight sighed deeply. Say:

"Well! God has taken away those whom He wanted, and has left what He wishes to keep. Now, I think, our days of wandering and suffering in the middle of nowhere are at an end!" Then he said: "Hi! In the past few years, we haven't been wandering anywhere!" "The hand of God is on you," Jagienka said. "Yes, the hand of God has kept us; but I tell you frankly, it is time to go home." "As long as Jurand lives, we shall be here," said Jagienka. "How is he now?" "He always looked up to the sky and smiled. It was as if he had seen heaven and Danuska was waiting for him there."

"Do you take care of him?" "Yes. But Father Kaleb said that angels were guarding him. The steward saw two angels yesterday." "They say," said Macko, "that the most fitting end for a nobleman is to die in battle. But like Jurand, death in bed is good enough." "He didn't eat or drink, just kept smiling," Jagienka said. "Let's go and see him, Zbyszko must be there too." But Zbyszko stayed with Jurand only for a while, because Jurand knew no one; then he went to the cellar to see Danusia's coffin, and stayed there until old Tolima found him , and reminded him that it was time to eat before he left.

As he left, by the light of the torches, he saw that the coffin was covered with wreaths of cornflowers and marigolds, and the well-swept ground was strewn with barley, marigolds and lindens. The flowers exude a tangy fragrance.Zbyszko looked at it, was very moved, and couldn't help asking: "Who decorated this coffin?" "Miss Zgotrilitre," Tolima answered. The young knight said nothing, and after a while, seeing Jagienka, suddenly fell on his knees at her feet, embraced her feet, and cried: "May God reward your kindness and the flowers you gave Danuska!"

He burst into tears, and Jagienka, clasping his head tightly, said like a sister trying to comfort a weeping brother: "Oh, my Zbyszko, how I want to comfort you!" Then tears flowed down her face like a fountain.