CHAPTER XLVI.
Prince Yeremi heard of the slaying of Bogun with notable indifference,especially when he learned that there were men outside his regimentswho were ready at any moment to testify that Volodyovski had beenchallenged. If the affair had not happened just before the announcementof Yan Kazimir's election, if the struggle of the candidates had beenstill going on, the opponents of Yeremi and at their head thechancellor would certainly not have failed to forge weapons against himout of this event, in spite of all witnesses and testimony. But afterPrince Karl's withdrawal, men's minds were occupied with other things,and it was easy to foresee that the whole affair would be drowned inoblivion. Hmelnitski, it is true, might raise it to show what newinjuries he was enduring every day; but Yeremi justly hoped that PrinceKazimir in sending his answer would order it to be stated from himselfhow the envoy had perished, and Hmelnitski would not dare to doubt thetruth of the prince's words.
Yeremi was anxious only that no political disturbance should risethrough his soldiers. On the other hand he was glad, on Skshetuski'saccount, of what had happened, for the finding of Kurtsevichovna wasreally much more likely now. It was possible to find her, to rescue orransom her; and the prince would surely not spare the outlay, no matterhow great, if only he could save his favorite knight from suffering andrestore his happiness.
Volodyovski went to the prince in great apprehension; for though ingeneral he had little timidity, still he feared as he did fire everyfrown of the voevoda's brow. What was his astonishment then and joywhen the prince, after he had heard the report and meditated awhile onwhat had happened, took a costly ring from his finger and said,--
"I praise your moderation for not attacking him first, for a great andharmful uproar might have arisen at the Diet from that. But if theprincess shall be found, Skshetuski will be indebted to you for life.Reports reach me, Volodyovski, that as others are unable to keep theirtongues behind their lips, you are unable to keep your sabre in itsscabbard, for which punishment is due you. But since you took the partof a friend and sustained the reputation of our regiments with such afamous hero, take this ring, so as to have some memento of this day. Iknew that you were a good soldier and famous at the sword, but this islike a master of masters."
"He!" said Zagloba. "He would cut the devil's horns off at the thirdround. If your Highness should ever have my head cut off, then I askthat no one else cut it but him, for at least I should go to the otherworld straightway. He cut Bogun in two in the breast, and then passedtwice through his wits."
The prince was fond of knightly affairs and good soldiers; he smiledtherefore with pleasure and asked: "Have you ever found your match atthe sabre?"
"Skshetuski hacked me a little once, but I paid him back the time yourHighness put us both behind the bars. Among others Pan Podbipientamight meet me, for he has power beyond human; and Kushel almost, if hehad better eyes."
"Don't believe him, your Highness! no man can stand before him."
"And Bogun fought long?"
"I had grievous work. He knew how to throw the sabre from the right tothe left hand."
"Bogun told me himself," interrupted Zagloba, "that he fought with theKurtsevichi whole days for practice, and I saw myself how he did thesame with others in Chigirin."
"Do you know what you would better do, Volodyovski?" said the prince,with pretended seriousness; "go to Zamost, challenge Hmelnitski, andwith one blow free the Commonwealth from all its defeats andanxieties."
"I will go at your Highness's order, if Hmelnitski wishes to meet me,"answered Volodyovski.
To which the prince answered: "We are joking, and the world isperishing! But you, gentlemen, must really go to Zamost. I have newsfrom the Cossack camp that the moment Prince Kazimir's election isdeclared, Hmelnitski will raise the siege and withdraw to Russia, whichhe will do from real or simulated affection for the king, or becausehis power might more easily be broken at Zamost. Therefore you must goand tell Skshetuski what has happened, so that he may set out to lookfor the princess. Tell him to choose from my squadrons with thestarosta of Valets as many soldiers as may be necessary for theexpedition. Besides, I shall send him permission by you and give him aletter, for his happiness is very near my heart."
"Your Highness, you are a father to us all; therefore we desire toremain in faithful service to you while we live."
"I am not sure that my service will not soon be a hungry one," said theprince, "if all my fortune beyond the Dnieper is lost; but while itlasts, what is mine is yours."
"Oh," cried Volodyovski, "our poor fortunes will always be at thedisposal of your Highness."
"And mine with the rest," added Zagloba.
"That is not necessary yet," answered the prince, kindly. "I stillentertain the hope that if I lose everything the Commonwealth will atleast remember my children."
Speaking thus, the prince seemed to have a moment of second sight. TheCommonwealth in fact a few years later gave to his only son the best ithad,--that is, the crown; but at that time the gigantic fortune ofYeremi was really shattered.
"Well, we got out of it," said Zagloba, when both had left the prince."Pan Michael, you may be sure of promotion. But let us see the ring.Upon my word, it is worth about one hundred ducats, for the stone isvery beautiful. Ask any Armenian in the bazaar to-morrow. For such anamount we might swim in eating and drinking and other delights. What doyou think, Pan Michael? The soldier's maxim is: 'To-day I live,to-morrow decay;' and the sense of it is this,--that it isn't worthwhile to think of to-morrow. Short is the life of man, Pan Michael. Thegreat thing is this, that henceforth the prince will carry you in hisheart. He would give ten times as much to make a present of Bogun toSkshetuski, and you have done it. You may expect great favors, believeme! Are the villages few that the prince has given to knights for life,or made presents of outright? What is such a ring as this? Surely someincome will fall to you, and to wind up, the prince will give you oneof his relatives in marriage."
Pan Michael jumped up. "How do you know that--"
"That what?"
"I wanted to say, what have you got in your head? How could such athing take place?"
"But does it not take place? Are you not a noble, or are not all noblesequal? Are the distant relatives, male and female, of every magnateamong the nobles few in number? These relatives he gives in marriage tohis most important men. Very likely Sufchinski of Senchy married somedistant relative of the Vishnyevetskis. Though some of us serve, we areall brothers, Pan Michael,--all brothers, since we are all descended incommon from Japhet, and the whole difference is in fortune and officesto which each may arrive. There are likely enough in some othercountries considerable differences between nobles, but they are mangynobles. I understand differences between dogs; there are, for instance,pointers, and there are hounds of various kinds. But consider,Pan Michael, it cannot be so among nobles; for then we should bedog-brothers, not nobles,--which disgrace to such an honorable orderThou wilt not permit, O Lord!"
"You speak truly," said Volodyovski; "but then the Vishnyevetskis arekingly stock, almost."
"Ah, Pan Michael, just as if you are not eligible to the throne! I,first of all, would vote for you, if I should make up my mind like PanSigismond Skarshevski, who swears that he will vote for himself unlesshe is ruined at dice. Everything, thank God, with us is obtained byfree vote; our poverty, not our birth, stands in the way."
"That's the case precisely," sighed Pan Michael.
"What's to be done? We are plundered to the last, and we shall be lostif the Commonwealth doesn't provide some income for us," said Zagloba,"and we shall perish miserably. What wonder is it if a man, though bynature abstemious, should like to get drunk under such oppressions? Letus go, Pan Michael, and drink a glass of small beer; we shall comfortourselves even a little."
Thus conversing, they reached the old town and entered a wine-shop,before which a number of attendants were holding the shubas and burkasof nobles who were drinking inside. Having seated thems
elves before atable, they ordered a decanter and began to take counsel as to whatthey should do now, after the killing of Bogun.
"If Hmelnitski should leave Zamost and peace follow, then the princessis ours," said Zagloba.
"We must go to Skshetuski at once, and not let him off till he findsthe girl."
"True, we will go at once; but now there is no way of getting toZamost."
"That's all the same, if only God will favor us later."
Zagloba raised his glass. "He will, he will," said he. "Do you know,Pan Michael, what I'll tell you?"
"What is it?"
"Bogun is killed."
Volodyovski looked at him with astonishment. "Yes; who should know thatbetter than I?"
"May your hands be holy! you know and I know. I saw how you fought; youare now before my eyes, and still I must repeat it to myselfcontinually, for at times it seems as though I had only some kind of adream. What a care has been removed! what a knot your sabre cut! Maythe bullets strike you! for God knows, this is too great to be told.No, I cannot restrain myself; let me press you once again, Pan Michael.If you will believe, when I made your acquaintance I thought to myself:'There is a little whipper-snapper.' A nice whipper-snapper, to slashBogun in this fashion! Bogun is gone; no trace, no ashes of him,--slainto death for the ages of ages; amen!"
Here Zagloba began to hug and kiss Volodyovski, and Pan Michael wasmoved to tears as if sorry for Bogun. At last, however, he freedhimself from Zagloba's embraces and said: "We were not present at hisdeath, and he is hard to kill. Suppose he recovers?"
"Oh, in God's name, what are you talking about?" said Zagloba. "Ishould be ready to go to-morrow to Lipki and arrange the nicest funeralfor him, just after his death."
"Why should you go? You wouldn't finish a wounded man. After the sabre,whoever does not yield his breath at once is likely to pull through. Asabre is not a bullet."
"He cannot recover. He was already in the death-agony when we left. Nochance of recovery! I examined his wounds myself. Let him rest, for youcut him open like a hare. We must go to Skshetuski at once and comforthim, or he may die of gnawing grief."
"Or he will become a monk; he told me so himself."
"What wonder? I should do the same in his place. I do not know a morehonorable knight, and a more unhappy one I do not know. The Lord visitshim grievously."
"Leave off," said Volodyovski, a little drunk, "for I am not able tostop my tears."
"Neither am I," added Zagloba; "such an honorable knight, and such asoldier! But the princess--you do not know her; such a darling!"
Here Zagloba began to howl in a low bass, for he really loved theprincess; and Pan Michael accompanied him in a higher key, and theydrank wine mixed with tears. Then, dropping their heads on theirbreasts, they sat for a time gloomily, till Zagloba struck his fist onthe table.
"Pan Michael, why do we weep? Bogun is killed!"
"True," said Volodyovski.
"We ought rather to rejoice. We are fools now if we don't find her."
"Let us go," said Volodyovski, rising.
"Let us drink," corrected Zagloba. "God grant us to hold their childrenat the christening, and all because we slew Bogun."
"Served him right!" finished Volodyovski, not noticing that Zagloba wasalready sharing with him the merit of killing Bogun.