Chapter 72 Chapter Thirty-eight

The old knight longed to join Zbyszko in Prince Witout's army, but Zbyszko would not even listen.He insisted on going there alone, without guards, without chariots and horses, but with three servants on horseback, one with food, one with weapons, and one with a bear's skin for sleeping.Macko and Jagienka begged him to at least take Hlaval, a faithful and experienced squire, but their entreaties were in vain, and Zbyszko refused to take any more. , said that he must forget his sorrow, and that the sight of this squire would remind him of all the past. Before he left, there were still some important matters to settle; that is, what to do with Spykhov.Macko suggested selling the estate.His reason is that this is an unlucky place that can only bring misfortune and sorrow to people.But Spiehoff had all sorts of property; besides money, there were arms, horseclothes, fur coats, valuable furs and furniture, and herds.It was Macko who cared most of all, and wanted very much to spend Spykhov's fortune on Bogdaniec;For this reason they discussed for a long time.But Zbyszko would not agree to sell the estate in any way.

"How can I agree to sell Jurand's bones?" he said. "Is this how I repay his kindness to me?" "We have promised to take Danusia's body away," Macko said. "We can also take Jurand's body away." "Hey! His body is buried here with his ancestors. If it is taken to Kirsisnia, he will be separated from his ancestors and will feel lonely. If Danusia is taken away, then he will die. Far from his daughter, if the two were shipped away together, their ancestors would be alone here again." "You only know one thing, but you don't know one thing or two. Jurand has gone to heaven and sees his own people every day. Father Kaleb said that he is already in heaven," replied the old knight.

But Father Kaleb sided with Zbyszko.He interrupted: "Although the soul is in heaven, the body is buried in the soil, and it will not go to heaven until the final judgment day." Macko thought for a while, then continued to speak his thoughts. "Of course, if anyone is not saved, Jurand cannot see them. But there is no way." "Why talk about God's providence here," Zbyszko said. "God only forbids strangers to live here among the dead bodies of saints. I'd rather keep everything here than sell Spychof, not even if they offered me a duchy in exchange .”

After hearing these words Macko saw that there was nothing he could do, for he knew that his nephew was stubborn by nature, but in spite of all his eccentricities he loved him exceedingly. He immediately said: "What are you talking about? It doesn't suit me, but he's right in this matter." Macko began to worry, because he didn't know what to do. Jagienka, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward to make a new suggestion. "It would be great if you could find an honest man to manage or lease the property here. He could lease the land out properly, and you'd have no trouble and just collect your cash. Would you like to rent it to Tolima? ?... No; he's old, and he's better at war than farming; if he can't, maybe rent it to the Abbe Kaleb?"

"My dear lady!" said Father Kaleb, "Tolima and I may manage this land together, but neither of us is fit to manage it." Then he turned to Tolima and said: "Am I right, old man?" Tolima put her hand on his pointy ear, and asked what was the matter; they repeated it to him aloud, and Tolima said: "It is absolutely true. I do not know how to manage the tillage! I would rather use the hatchet than the plow. . . . If I could avenge my lord and his daughter, I should be delighted..." He stretched out his thin, strong hands, with fingers like eagle's claws, and turning his wolfish, white-haired head towards Macko and Zbyszko, he said:

"Gentlemen, take me to fight the Germans with you, that's my duty!" He is right.The old man added a lot of wealth to Jurand, and it was all spoils of war, not farming. Jagienka had now made up her mind and said: "It would be better for this manor to be looked after by a bold young man, for the borders of the Knights of the Crusader are just opposite. I am speaking of a man who, instead of hiding from the Germans, will go after them. My opinion is therefore Let Halava try it—I think he is fit to do it;" "What are you listening to her talk about!" Macko cried, for although he loved Jagienka, he would never listen to a woman, especially a girl, in such an important matter. idea.

But the Czech stood up and said: "God is my witness, and I would be happiest to go to war with my master Zbyszko, for we have beaten some Germans together, and perhaps we shall have another chance... But if I were to stay here, I would Just stay...Tolima is my friend, he knows me. The border of the Knights of the Crusaders is on the opposite side, so what? That's a good thing! We can see which of these two neighbors messes up first People are annoying! It is not so much that I am afraid of them, but rather that they are afraid of me. God does not allow me to harm you in business and only care about my own interests. This, the lady can vouch for me; I would rather go to hell than lie She. I don't know much about farming, but I learned a little at Zgotrilici; but I think there's more opportunity for axes and swords here than for plows. That's the thing I'm most concerned about. Forget it, let it go... Anyway, I can't go..."

"What on earth do you mean?" Zbyszko asked. "Why don't you like to stay here?" Halava was stumped by the question, and stammered on: "When the lady is gone, everybody's to go with her. I can fight well--and plow--but alone...not a helper...the lady isn't here. The...nor is there, I'm going to feel very lonely, how can I put it...the lady can't go out alone...then if there is no one here to help me...really, I don't know..." "What is the boy talking about?" Macko asked. "You are very clever, but you can't read his mind," answered Jagienka.

"Then what is it?" Jagienka made no answer, but turned to Halava and said: "Can you bear it if Anurka stays with you?" Upon hearing this, the Czech suddenly fell to her knees, and even the dust on the ground flew up. "I can bear hell with her," he cried, hugging her feet. Zbyszko heard this cry and looked at his squire in amazement, for he knew nothing of it. Macko wondered too, and thought how much a woman could play in human affairs, and how she could make or break everything. "Thank God," he whispered, "I don't need them." Jagienka turned again to Halava and said:

"Now we must find out whether Anurka can bear being with you." She called for Anurka, who probably knew or guessed what was going on, so she came in with her head bowed and her hands over her eyes so that only part of her fair hair was visible. It looks very bright in the sun.Anurka stood at the door at first, then ran up to Jagienka, knelt down before her, and hid her face in the folds of her skirt. The Czech also knelt down beside her and said to Jagienka: "Bless us, miss!"