The Knights of the Cross, or, Krzyzacy: Historical Romance

  CHAPTER X.

  When Jagienka reached home, she immediately sent a servant to Krzesnia tolearn whether there had been a fight in the inn, or whether there hadbeen a challenge. But the servant having received a _skojec_,[85] beganto drink with the priest's servants, and did not hasten. Another servantwho had been sent to Bogdaniec to inform Macko that the abbot was goingto pay him a visit, returned, having fulfilled the commission andreported that he had seen Zbyszko playing dice with the old man. Thispartly soothed Jagienka, because knowing by experience how dexterousZbyszko was, she was not so much afraid about a regular duel, as she wasabout some unexpected accident in the inn. She wanted to accompany theabbot to Bogdaniec, but he was not willing. He wished to talk with Mackoabout the pledge and about some other important business; and then hewanted to go there toward night. Having learned that Zbyszko had returnedhome safe, he became very jovial and ordered his wandering seminarists tosing and shout. They obeyed him so well that the forest resounded withthe noise, and in Bogdaniec, the farmers came out from their houses, andlooked to see whether there was a fire or an invasion of the enemy. Thepilgrim riding ahead, quieted them by telling them that a highecclesiastical dignitary was coming; therefore when they saw the abbot,they bowed to him, and some of them even made the sign of the cross ontheir chests; he seeing how they respected him, rode along with joyfulpride, pleased with the world and full of kindness toward the people.

  Macko and Zbyszko having heard the singing, came to the gate to meet him.Some of the seminarists had been in Bogdaniec before with the abbot; butothers of them having joined the retinue lately, had never seen it untilnow. They were disappointed when they saw the miserable house which couldnot be compared with the large mansion in Zgorzelice. But they werereassured when they saw the smoke coming out from the thatched roof ofthe house; and they were greatly pleased when upon entering the room,they smelt saffron and different kinds of meats, and noticed two tablesfull of tin dishes, empty as yet, but enormous. On the smaller tablewhich was prepared for the abbot, shone a silver dish and also abeautifully engraved silver cup, both taken with the other treasures fromthe Fryzes.

  Macko and Zbyszko invited them to the table immediately; but the abbotwho had eaten plentifully in Zgorzelice, refused because he had somethingelse on his mind. Since his arrival he had looked at Zbyszko attentivelyand uneasily, as if he desired to see on him some traces of the fight;but seeing the quiet face of the youth, he began to be impatient; finallyhe was unable to restrain his curiosity any longer.

  "Let us go into the chamber," said he, "to speak about the pledge. Do notrefuse me; that will make me angry!"

  Here he turned to the seminarists and shouted:

  "You keep quiet and do not listen at the door!"

  Having said this, he opened the door to the chamber and entered, followedby Zbyszko and Macko. As soon as they were seated on the chests, theabbot turned toward the young knight:

  "Did you go back to Krzesnia?" asked he.

  "Yes, I was there."

  "And what?"

  "Well, I paid for a mass for my uncle's health, that's all."

  The abbot moved on the chest impatiently.

  "Ha!" thought he, "he did not meet Cztan and Wilk; perhaps they were notthere, and perhaps he did not look for them. I was mistaken."

  But he was angry because he was mistaken, and because his plans had notbeen realized; therefore immediately his face grew red and he began tobreathe loudly.

  "Let us speak about the pledge!" said he. "Have you the money? If not,then the estate is mine!"

  Macko, who knew how to act with him, rose silently, opened the chest onwhich he was sitting, and took out of it a bag of _grzywien_, evidentlyprepared for this occasion, and said:

  "We are poor people, but we have the money; we will pay what is right, asit is written in the 'letter' which I signed with the mark of the holycross. If you want to be paid for the improvements, we will not quarrelabout that either; we will pay the amount you say, and we will bow toyou, our benefactor."

  Having said this, he kneeled at the abbot's knee and Zbyszko did thesame. The abbot, who expected some quarrels and arguing, was very muchsurprised at such a proceeding, and not very much pleased with it; hewanted to dictate some conditions and he saw that he would have noopportunity to do so.

  Therefore returning the "letter" or rather the mortgage which Macko hadsigned with a cross, he said:

  "Why are you talking to me about an additional payment?"

  "Because we do not want to receive any presents," answered Mackocunningly, knowing well that the more he quarreled in that matter themore he would get.

  At this the abbot reddened with anger:

  "Did you ever see such people? They do not wish to accept anything from arelative! You have too much bread! I did not take waste land and I do notreturn it waste; and if I want to give you this bag, I will do it!"

  "You would not do that!" exclaimed Macko.

  "I will not do it! Here is your pledge! Here is your money! I give itbecause I want to, and had I even thrown it into the road, it would benone of your affairs. You shall see if I will not do as I wish!"

  Having said this, he seized the bag and threw it on the floor so hardthat it burst, and the money was scattered.

  "May God reward you! May God reward you, father and benefactor!"exclaimed Macko, who had been waiting for this; "I would not accept itfrom anyone else, but from a relation and a spiritual father, I willaccept it."

  The abbot looked threateningly at both of them, and finally he said:

  "Although I am angry, I know what I am doing; therefore hold what youhave, because I assure you that you shall not have one _skojeo_ more."

  "We did not expect even this."

  "You know that Jagienka will inherit everything I have."

  "The land also?" asked Macko, simply.

  "The land also!" shouted the abbot.

  At this Macko's face grew long, but he recovered himself and said:

  "Ej, why should you think about death! May the Lord Jesus grant you ahundred years or more of life, and an important bishopric soon."

  "Certainly! Am I worse than others?" said the abbot.

  "Not worse, but better!"

  These words appeased the abbot, for his anger never lasted long.

  "Well," said he, "you are my relations, and she is only my goddaughter;but I love her, and Zych also. There is no better man in the world thanZych and no better girl than Jagienka, also! Who can say anything againstthem?"

  He began to look angry, but Macko did not contradict; he quickly affirmedthat there was no worthier neighbor in the whole kingdom.

  "And as for the girl," said he, "I could not love my own daughter anymore than I love her. With her help, I recovered my health and I shallnever forget it until my death."

  "You will both be punished if you forget it," said the abbot, "and I willcurse you. But I do not wish to wrong you, therefore I have found a wayby which, what I will leave after my death, can belong to you and toJagienka; do you understand?"

  "May God help us to realize that!" answered Macko. "Sweet Jesus! I wouldgo on foot to the grave of the queen in Krakow or to Lysa Gora[86] to bowto the Holy Cross."

  The abbot was very much pleased with such sincerity; he smiled and said:

  "The girl is perfectly right to be particular in her choice, because sheis pretty, rich and of good family! Of what account are Cztan or Wilk,when the son of a _wojewoda_ would not be too good for her! But ifsomebody, as myself for instance, spoke in favor of any particular one,then she would marry him, because she loves me and knows that I willadvise her well."

  "The one whom you advise her to marry, will be very lucky," said Macko.

  But the abbot turned to Zbyszko:

  "What do you say to this?"

  "Well, I think the same as my uncle does."

  The face of the abbot became still more serene; he struck Zbyszko'sshoulder with his hand so hard that the blow resounded in the chamber,and asked:


  "Why did you not let Cztan or Wilk approach Jagienka at church?"

  "Because I did not want them to think that I was afraid of them, and Idid not want you to think so."

  "But you gave the holy water to her."

  "Yes, I did."

  The abbot gave him another blow.

  "Then, take her!"

  "Take her!" exclaimed Macko, like an echo.

  At this Zbyszko gathered up his hair, put it in the net, and answeredquietly:

  "How can I take her, when before the altar in Tyniec, I made a vow toDanusia Jurandowna?"

  "You made a vow about the peacock's tufts, and you must get them, buttake Jagienka immediately."

  "No," answered Zbyszko; "afterward when Danusia covered me with her veil,I promised that I would marry her."

  The blood began to rush to the abbot's face; his ears turned blue, andhis eyes bulged; he approached Zbyszko and said, in a voice muffled withanger:

  "Your vows are the chaff and I am the wind; understand! Ot!"

  And he blew on Zbyszko's head so powerfully, that the net fell off andthe hair was scattered on his shoulders. Then Zbyszko frowned, andlooking into the abbot's eyes, he said:

  "In my vows is my honor, and over my honor, I alone am the guardian!"

  At this, the abbot not being accustomed to opposition, lost his breath tosuch a degree, that for a time he could not speak. There was anill-omened silence, which finally was broken by Macko:

  "Zbyszku!" exclaimed he, "come to your wits again! What is the matterwith you?"

  Meanwhile the abbot raised his hand and pointing toward the youth, beganto shout:

  "What is the matter with him? I know what is the matter; he has not theheart of a nobleman, nor of a knight, but of a hare! That is the matterwith him; he is afraid of Cztan and Wilk!"

  But Zbyszko, who had remained cool and calm, carelessly shrugged hisshoulders and answered:

  "Owa! I broke their heads when I was in Krzesnia."

  "For heaven's sake!" exclaimed Macko.

  The abbot stared for a while at Zbyszko. Anger was struggling withadmiration in him, and his reason told him that from that fight, he mightderive some benefit for his plans.

  Therefore having become cooler, he shouted to Zbyszko:

  "Why didn't you tell us that before?"

  "Because I was ashamed. I thought they would challenge me, as it iscustomary for knights to do, to fight on horseback or on foot; but theyare bandits, not knights. Wilk first took a board from the table, Cztanseized another and they both rushed against me! What could I do? I seizeda bench; well--you know!"

  "Are they still alive?" asked Macko.

  "Yes, they are alive, but they were hurt. They breathed when I left."

  The abbot, rubbing his forehead, listened; then he suddenly jumped fromthe chest, on which he had seated himself to be more comfortable and tothink the matter over, and exclaimed:

  "Wait! I want to tell you something!"

  "What?" asked Zbyszko.

  "If you fought for Jagienka and injured them for her sake, then you arereally her knight, not Danusia's; and you must take Jagienka."

  Having said this, he put his hands on his hips and looked at Zbyszkotriumphantly; but Zbyszko smiled and said:

  "Hej! I knew very well why you wanted me to fight with them; but you havenot succeeded in your plans."

  "Why? Speak!"

  "Because I challenged them to deny that Danusia Jurandowna is theprettiest and the most virtuous girl in the world; they took Jagienka'spart, and that is why there was a fight."

  Having heard this, the abbot stood amazed, and only the frequent movementof his eyes indicated that he was still alive. Finally he turned, openedthe door with his foot, and rushed into the other room; there he seizedthe curved stick from the pilgrim's hands and began to strike the_shpilmen_ with it, roaring like a wounded urus.

  "To horse, you rascals! To horse, you dog-faiths! I will not put my footin this house again! To horse, he who believes in God, to horse!"

  Then he opened the outer door and went into the court-yard, followed bythe frightened seminarists. They rushed to the stable and began to saddlethe horses. In vain Macko followed the abbot, and entreated him toremain; swore that it was not his fault. The abbot cursed the house, thepeople and the fields; when they brought him a horse, he jumped in thesaddle without touching the stirrups and galloped away looking, with hislarge sleeves filled by the wind, like an enormous red bird. Theseminarists rushed after him, like a herd following its leader.

  Macko stood looking after them for some time; but when they disappearedin the forest, he returned slowly to the room and said to Zbyszko,shaking his head sadly:

  "See what you have done?"

  "It would not have happened if I had gone away; and it is your fault thatI did not."

  "Why?"

  "Because I did not wish to leave you when you were sick."

  "And what will you do now?"

  "Now I shall go."

  "Where?"

  "To Mazowsze to see Danusia; and after that to search for peacock's tuftsamong the Germans."

  Macko was silent for a moment, then he said:

  "He returned the 'letter,' but the mortgage is recorded in themortgage-book at the court. Now the abbot will not give us even a_skojec_."

  "I do not care. You have money, and I do not need anything for myjourney. I will be received everywhere and my horses will be fed; if Ionly had a suit of armor on my back and a sword in my hand, I would neednothing else."

  Macko began to think about everything that had happened. All his plansand wishes had been frustrated. He had wished with his whole heart thatZbyszko would marry Jagienka; but he now realized that this wish wouldnever be fulfilled; and considering the abbot's anger, the behavior ofZbyszko toward Jagienka and finally the fight with Cztan and Wilk, heconcluded it would be better to allow Zbyszko to go.

  "Ha!" said he, finally, "if you must seek for the peacock's feathers onthe heads of the Knights of the Cross, go then. Let the Lord Jesus' willbe accomplished. But I must go immediately to Zgorzelice; perhaps I willsucceed in appeasing their wrath if I implore pardon of the abbot and ofZych; I care especially for the friendship of Zych."

  Here he looked into Zbyszko's eyes and asked:

  "Do you not regret Jagienka?"

  "May God give her health and the best of everything!" answered Zbyszko.

  END OF PART SECOND.

  PART THIRD.