CHAPTER XXI.
When Kmita had finished the trenches and secured Kyedani from suddenattack, he was unable to delay further his expedition for thesword-bearer and Olenka, especially since the command of the prince tobring them to Kyedani was imperative. But still Pan Andrei loitered,and when at last he did move at the head of fifty dragoons, he was asunquiet as if going on a forlorn hope. He felt that he would not bethankfully received, and he trembled at the thought that the old manmight try to resist, even with armed hand, and in such an event itwould be necessary to use force. But he determined first to persuadeand entreat. With the intent of stripping his visit of all semblance ofarmed attack, he left the dragoons at an inn a quarter of a mile fromthe village, and two from the house, and ordering the carriage tofollow a little later, rode ahead himself, with only the sergeant andone attendant.
It was in the afternoon, and the sun was already well inclined towardthe west, but after a rainy and stormy night the day was beautiful andthe sky pure, only here and there was it variegated on the western sideby small rosy clouds which pushed slowly beyond the horizon, like aflock of sheep leaving a field. Kmita rode through the village withthrobbing heart and as uneasy as the Tartar who entering a villagefirst, in advance of a chambul, looks around on every side to see if hecan discover armed men in ambush. But the three horsemen attracted noattention. Barefooted little peasant boys merely jumped out of the roadbefore the horses; peasants seeing the handsome officer, bowed to him,sweeping the ground with their caps. He rode on, and passing thevillage saw ahead a large dwelling, the old Billevich nest; behind itbroad gardens ending far beyond in the flat fields.
Kmita slackened his pace still more, and began to talk with himself,evidently framing answers to questions; and meanwhile he gazed withanxious eye on the buildings rising before him. It was not at all alordly mansion, but at the first glance it would have been guessed thata noble lived there of more than medium fortune. The house itself, withits back to the gardens and front to the highway, was enormous, but ofwood. The pine of the walls had grown so dark with age that the panesin the windows seemed white in contrast. Above the walls rose agigantic roof with four chimneys in the middle, and two dovecotes atthe gables. A whole cloud of white doves were collected on the roof,now flying away with clapping of wings, now dropping, like snowykerchiefs, on the black ridges, now flapping around the pillarssupporting the entrance.
That entrance, adorned with a shield on which the Billevich arms werepainted, disturbed the proportions of the house, for it was not in themiddle, but toward one side of it. Evidently the house had once beensmaller, but new parts were added subsequently from one side, thoughthe added parts had grown so black with the passage of years as not todiffer in anything from the old. Two wings, of enormous length, rose onboth sides of the house proper, and formed as it were two arms of ahorseshoe. In these wings were guest-chambers used in time of greatgatherings, kitchens, store-houses, carriage-houses, stables forcarriage horses which the masters wished to keep near at hand, roomsfor officials, servants, and house Cossacks.
In the middle of the broad yard grew old linden-trees, on them werestorks' nests. Among the trees was a bear chained to a pillar. Twowell-sweeps at the sides of the yard, a cross with the Passion of theLord between two spears at the entrance, completed this picture of theresidence of a powerful, noble family. At the right of the house, inthe middle of frequent linden-trees, rose the straw roofs of stables,cow-houses, sheep-houses, and granaries.
Kmita entered the gate, which was open on both sides; like the arms ofa noble awaiting the arrival of a guest. Then two dogs loiteringthrough the yard announced the stranger, and from a wing two boys ranto take the horses.
At the same moment in the door of the main building stood a femalefigure, in which Kmita recognized Olenka at once. His heart beat morequickly, and throwing the reins to the servant, he went toward theporch with uncovered head, holding in one hand his sabre, and in theother his cap.
She stood before him like a charming vision, shading her eyes with herhand against the setting sun, and then vanished on a sudden, as iffrightened by the sight of the approaching guest.
"Bad!" thought Pan Andrei; "she hides from me."
He was pained, and his pain was all the greater since just before themild sunset, the view of that house, and the calm so spread around itfilled his heart with hope, though perhaps Pan Andrei did not notethat.
He cherished as it were an illusion that he was going to his betrothed,who would receive him with eyes gleaming from joy and a blush on hercheeks.
And the illusion was broken. Scarcely had she seen him when she rushedaway, as if from an evil spirit; and straightway Pan Tomash came out tomeet him with a face at once unquiet and cloudy.
Kmita bowed and said, "I have long wished to express duly my devotionto you, my benefactor; but I was unable to do so sooner in these timesof disturbance, though surely there was no lack in me of desire."
"I am very grateful, and I beg you to enter," answered thesword-bearer, smoothing the forelock on his head,--an act usual withhim when confused or uncertain of himself. And he stepped aside fromthe door to let the guest pass.
Kmita for a while did not wish to enter first, and they bowed to eachother on the threshold; at last Pan Andrei took the step before thesword-bearer, and in a moment they were in the room.
They found there two nobles,--one, a man in the bloom of life, PanDovgird of Plemborg, a near neighbor of the Billeviches; the other, PanHudzynski, a tenant in Eyragoly. Kmita noticed that they had barelyheard his name when their faces changed and they seemed to act likedogs at sight of a wolf; he looked at them first defiantly, and thenfeigned not to see them.
A disagreeable silence succeeded.
Pan Andrei grew impatient and gnawed his mustaches; the guests lookedat him with a fixed frown, and the sword-bearer stroked his forelock.
"Will you drink a glass of poor nobles' mead with us?" asked he atlast, pointing to a decanter and a glass. "I request you--"
"I will drink with a gentleman!" said Kmita, rather abruptly.
Dovgird and Hudzynski began to puff, taking the answer as an expressionof contempt for them; but they would not begin a quarrel at once in afriendly house, and that with a roisterer who had a terrible reputationthroughout all Jmud. Still the insult nettled them.
Meanwhile the sword-bearer clapped his hands for a servant, and orderedhim to bring a fourth glass; then he filled it, raised his own to hislips, and said, "Into your hands-- I am glad to see you in my house."
"I should be sincerely glad were that true."
"A guest is a guest," said the sword-bearer, sententiously.
After awhile, conscious evidently of his duty as a host to keep up theconversation, he asked, "What do you hear at Kyedani? How is the healthof the hetman?"
"Not strong," answered Kmita, "and in these unquiet times it cannot beotherwise. The prince has a world of troubles and annoyances."
"I believe that!" said Pan Hudzynski.
Kmita looked at him for a while, then turned to the host andcontinued,--
"The prince, being promised assistance by the Swedish King, expected tomove against the enemy at Vilna without delay, and take vengeance forthe ashes of that place, which have not yet grown cold. And it must beknown also to you that now it is necessary to search for Vilna inVilna, for it was burning seventeen days. They say that nothing isvisible among the ruins but the black holes of cellars from which smokeis still rising continually."
"Misfortune!" said the sword-bearer.
"Of course a misfortune, which if it could not have been preventedshould be avenged and similar ruins made of the enemy's capital. Infact, it was coming to this when disturbers, suspecting the bestintentions of an honorable man, proclaimed him a traitor, and resistedhim in arms instead of aiding him against the enemy. It is not to bewondered, therefore, that the health of the prince totters, since he,whom God predestined to great things, sees that the malice of man isever
preparing new obstacles through which the entire undertaking maycome to naught. The best friends of the prince have deceived him; thoseon whom he counted most have left him, or gone to the enemy."
"So it is," said the sword-bearer, seriously.
"That is very painful," continued Kmita, "and I myself have heard theprince say, 'I know that honorable men pass evil judgments on me; butwhy do they not come to Kyedani, why do they not tell me to my facewhat they have against me, and listen to my reasons?'"
"Whom has the prince in mind?" asked the sword-bearer.
"In the first rank you, my benefactor, for whom he has a genuineregard, and he suspects that you belong to the enemy."
The sword-bearer began to smooth his forelock quickly. At last, seeingthat the conversation was taking an undesirable turn, he clapped hishands.
A servant appeared in the doorway.
"Seest not that it is growing dark? Bring lights!" cried Pan Tomash.
"God sees," continued Kmita, "that I had intended to lay before youproper assurances of my own devotion separately, but I have come herealso at the order of the prince, who would have come in person toBilleviche if the time were more favoring."
"Our thresholds are too lowly," said the sword-bearer.
"Do not say that, since it is customary for neighbors to visit oneanother; but the prince has no time unoccupied, therefore he said tome, 'Explain in my name to Pan Billevich that I am not able to visithim, but let him come to me with his niece, and that of course withoutdelay, for to-morrow or the day following I know not where I shall be.'So I have come with a request, and I trust that both of you are in goodhealth; for when I drove in here I saw Panna Aleksandra in the door,but she vanished at once, like mist from the field."
"That is true," said the sword-bearer; "I sent her myself to see whohad come."
"I am waiting for your reply, my benefactor," said Kmita.
At that moment the attendant brought in a light and placed it on thetable; by the shining of the light it was seen that Billevich wasgreatly confused.
"This is no small honor for me," said he, "but--I cannot go at once. Bepleased to excuse me to the hetman--you see that I have guests."
"Oh, surely that will not hinder, for these gentlemen will yield to theprince."
"We have our own tongues in our mouths, and can answer for ourselves,"said Pan Hudzynski.
"Without waiting for others to make decisions concerning us," addedDovgird.
"You see," continued Kmita, pretending to take in good part thechurlish words of the nobles, "I knew that these were polite cavaliers.But to avoid slighting any one, I invite them also in the name of theprince to come to Kyedani."
"Too much favor," said both; "we have something else to do."
Kmita looked on them with a peculiar expression, and then said coldly,as if speaking to some fourth person, "When the prince invites, it isnot permitted to refuse."
At that they rose from their chairs.
"But is that constraint?" asked the sword-bearer.
"Pan Billevich, my benefactor," answered Kmita, quickly, "thosegentlemen will go whether they wish or not, for thus it has pleased me;but I desire not to use force with you, and I beg most sincerely thatyou will deign to gratify the prince. I am on service, and have anorder to bring you; but as long as I do not lose hope of effectingsomething with entreaty, I shall not cease to entreat,--and I swear toyou that not a hair will fall from your head while there. The princewishes to talk with you, and wishes you to live in Kyedani during thesetroubled times, when even peasants collect in crowds and plunder. Thisis the whole affair! You will be treated with fitting respect inKyedani, as a guest and a friend; I give my word of honor for that."
"As a noble, I protest," said the sword-bearer, "and the law protectsme."
"And sabres!" cried Hudzynski and Dovgird.
Kmita laughed, frowned, and said, "Put away your sabres, gentlemen, orI shall give the order to place you both against the barn and put abullet into the head of each one of you."
At this they grew timid, and began to look at each other and at Kmita;but the sword-bearer cried,--
"The most outrageous violence against the freedom of nobles, againstprivileges!"
"There will be no violence if you comply of your own will," said Kmita;"and the proof is in this that I left dragoons in the village, and camehere alone to invite you as one neighbor another. Do not refuse, forthe times are such that it is difficult to pay attention to refusals.The prince himself will excuse you therefore, and know that you will bereceived as a neighbor and a friend. Understand, too, that could you bereceived otherwise, I would a hundred times rather have a bullet in myhead than come here for you. Not a hair will fall from any Billevichhead while I am alive. Call to mind who I am, remember HeracliusBillevich, remember his will, and consider whether the prince wouldhave selected me did he not intend to deal with you in sincerity."
"Why then does he use force, why have I to go under constraint? How amI to trust him, when all Lithuania talks of the oppression under whichhonorable citizens are groaning in Kyedani?"
Kmita drew breath; for, from his words and voice he knew that Billevichwas beginning to weaken in his resistance.
"Worthy benefactor," said he, almost joyously, "constraint amongneighbors often rises from affection. And when you order servants toput the carriage-wheel of a welcome guest in the storehouse, or hisprovision-chest in the larder, is not that constraint? And when youforce him to drink, even when wine is flowing out through his nostrils,is not that constraint? And be assured that even had I to bind you andtake you bound to Kyedani among dragoons, that would be for your good.Just think, insurgent soldiers are wandering about and committinglawless deeds, peasants are mustering, Swedish troops are approaching,and do you think to save yourself from accident in the uproar, or thatsome of these will not come to-day or tomorrow, plunder and burn yourproperty, and attack your person? Is Billeviche a fortress? Can youdefend yourself here? What does the prince wish for you? Safety; forKyedani is the only place where you are not in danger. A detachment ofthe prince's troops will guard your property here, as the eyes in theirheads, from all disorder of soldiers; and if one fork is lost, thentake my whole fortune."
Billevich began to walk through the room. "Can I trust your word?"
At that moment Panna Aleksandra entered the room. Kmita approached herquickly, but suddenly remembered the events of Kyedani, and her coldface fixed him to the floor; he bowed therefore from a distance, insilence.
Pan Billevich stood before her. "We have to go to Kyedani," said he.
"And for what reason?" asked she.
"For the hetman invites."
"Very kindly,--as a neighbor," added Kmita.
"Yes, very kindly," said Billevich, with a certain bitterness; "but ifwe do not go of our own will, this cavalier has the order to surroundus with dragoons and take us by force."
"God preserve us from that!" said Kmita.
"Have not I told you, Uncle," asked Panna Aleksandra, "that we ought toflee as far as possible, for they would not leave us here undisturbed?Now my words have come true."
"What's to be done, what's to be done? There is no remedy againstforce," cried Billevich.
"True," answered the lady: "but we ought not to go to that infamoushouse of our own will. Let murderers take us, bind us, and bear us. Notwe alone shall suffer persecution, not us alone will the vengeance oftraitors reach; but let them know that we prefer death to infamy."
Here she turned with an expression of supreme contempt to Kmita: "Bindus, sir officer, or sir executioner, and take us with horses, for inanother way we will not go."
The blood rushed to Kmita's face; it seemed for a time that he wouldburst forth in terrible anger, but he restrained himself.
"Ah, gracious lady," said he, with a voice stifled from excitement, "Ihave not favor in your eyes, since you wish to make me a murderer, atraitor, and a man of violence. May God judge who is right,--whether Iserving the hetman, or you insulting me as
a dog. God gave you beauty,but a heart venomous and implacable. You are glad to suffer yourself,that you may inflict still greater pain on another. You exceed themeasure,--as I live, you exceed it,--and nothing will come of that."
"The maiden speaks well," cried Billevich, to whom daring camesuddenly; "we will not go of our own will. Take us with dragoons."
But Kmita paid no attention whatever to him, so much was he excited,and so deeply touched.
"You are in love with the sufferings of people," continued he toOlenka, "and you proclaim me a traitor without judgment, withoutconsidering a reason, without permitting me to say a word in my owndefence. Let it be so. But you will go to Kyedani,--of your own will oragainst your will; it is all one. There my intentions will becomeevident; there you will know whether you have justly accused me ofwrong, there conscience will tell you who of us was whose executioner.I want no other vengeance. God be with you, but I want that vengeance.And I want nothing more of you, for you have bent the bow to thebreaking. There is a serpent under your beauty as under a flower."
"We will not go!" repeated Billevich, still more resolutely.
"As true as life we will not!" shouted Hudzynski and Dovgird.
Kmita turned to them; but he was very pale now, for rage was throttlinghim, and his teeth chattered as in a fever.
"Ei! Try now to resist! My horses are to be heard,--my dragoons arecoming. Will some one say again that he will not go?"
In fact the tramp of numerous horses was heard. All saw that there wasno help, and Kmita said,--
"Young lady, within the time that a man could repeat the Lord's Prayertwice you must be in the carriage, or your uncle will have a bullet inhis head."
And it was evident that the wild frenzy of anger was taking possessionmore and more of Pan Andrei, for suddenly he shouted till the panesrattled in the windows, "To the road!"
That same instant the door of the front chamber opened quietly, andsome strange voice inquired,--
"To what place, Cavalier?"
All became as stone from amazement, and every eye was turned to thedoor, in which stood some small man in armor, and with a naked sabre inhis hand.
Kmita retreated a step, as if he had seen an apparition. "PanVolodyovski!" cried he.
"At your service!" answered the little man. And he advanced into themiddle of the chamber; after him entered in a crowd Mirski, Zagloba,Pan Yan, Pan Stanislav, Stankyevich, Oskyerko and Roh Kovalski.
"Ha!" cried Zagloba; "the Cossack caught a Tartar, and the Tartar holdshim by the head!"
Billevich began to speak: "Whoever you are, gentlemen, save a citizenwhom in spite of law, birth, and office they wish to arrest andconfine. Save, brothers, the freedom of a noble, whoever you may be."
"Fear not!" answered Volodyovski, "the dragoons of this cavalier arealready in fetters, and now he needs rescue himself more than you do."
"But a priest most of all!" added Zagloba.
"Sir Knight," said Volodyovski, turning to Kmita, "you have no luckwith me; a second time I stand in your way. You did not expect me?"
"I did not! I thought you were in the hands of the prince."
"I have just slipped out of those hands,--this is the road toPodlyasye. But enough! The first time that you bore away this lady Ichallenged you to sabres, is it not true?"
"True," answered Kmita, reaching involuntarily to his head.
"Now it is another affair. Then you were given to fighting,--a thingusual with nobles, and not bringing the last infamy. To-day you do notdeserve that an honest man should challenge you."
"Why is that?" asked Kmita; and raising his proud head, he lookedVolodyovski straight in the eyes.
"You are a traitor and a renegade," answered Volodyovski, "for you havecut down, like an executioner, honest soldiers who stood by theircountry,--for it is through your work that this unhappy land isgroaning under a new yoke. Speaking briefly, prepare for death, for asGod is in heaven your last hour has come."
"By what right do you judge and execute me?" inquired Kmita.
"Gracious sir," answered Zagloba, seriously, "say your prayers insteadof asking us about a right. But if you have anything to say in yourdefence, say it quickly, for you will not find a living soul to takeyour part. Once, as I have heard, this lady here present begged youfrom the hands of Pan Volodyovski; but after what you have done now,she will surely not take your part."
Here the eyes of all turned involuntarily to Panna Aleksandra, whoseface at that moment was as if cut from stone; and she stood motionless,with downcast lids, icy-cold, but she did not advance a step or speak aword.
The voice of Kmita broke the silence--"I do not ask that lady forintercession."
Panna Aleksandra was silent.
"This way!" called Volodyovski, turning toward the door.
Heavy steps were heard, followed by the gloomy rattle of spurs; and sixsoldiers, with Yuzva Butrym in front, entered the room.
"Take him!" commanded Volodyovski, "lead him outside the village andput a bullet in his head."
The heavy hand of Butrym rested on the collar of Kmita, after that twoother hands.
"Do not let them drag me like a dog!" said Kmita to Volodyovski. "Iwill go myself."
Volodyovski nodded to the soldiers, who released him at once, butsurrounded him; and he walked out calmly, not speaking to any man, onlywhispering his prayers.
Panna Aleksandra went out also, through the opposite door, to theadjoining rooms. She passed the first and the second, stretching outher hand in the darkness before her; suddenly her head whirled, thebreath failed in her bosom, and she fell, as if dead, on the floor.
Among those who were assembled in the first room a dull silence reignedfor some time; at last Billevich broke it. "Is there no mercy for him?"asked he.
"I am sorry for him," answered Zagloba, "for he went manfully todeath."
To which Mirski said, "He shot a number of officers out of my squadron,besides those whom he slew in attack."
"And from mine too," added Stankyevich; "and he cut up almost all ofNyevyarovski's men."
"He must have had orders from Radzivill," said Zagloba.
"Gentlemen," said Billevich, "you bring the vengeance of Radzivill onmy head."
"You must flee. We are going to Podlyasye, for there the squadrons haverisen against traitors; go with us. There is no other help. You cantake refuge in Byalovyej, where a relative of Pan Skshetuski is theking's hunter. There no one will find you."
"But my property will be lost."
"The Commonwealth will restore it to you."
"Pan Michael," said Zagloba, suddenly, "I will gallop off and see ifthere are not some orders of the hetman on that unfortunate man. Youremember what I found on Roh Kovalski."
"Mount a horse. There is time yet; later the papers will be bloody. Iordered them to take him beyond the village, so that the lady might notbe alarmed at the rattle of muskets, for women are sensitive and givento fright."
Zagloba went out, and after a while the tramp of the horse on which herode away was heard. Volodyovski turned to the host.
"What is the lady doing?"
"Beyond doubt she is praying for that soul which must go before God."
"May the Lord give him eternal rest!" said Pan Yan. "Were it not forhis willing service with Radzivill, I should be the first to speak inhis favor; but if he did not wish to stand by his country, he might atleast not have sold his soul to Radzivill."
"That is true!" added Volodyovski.
"He is guilty and deserves what has come upon him," said Pan Stanislav;"but I would that Radzivill were in his place, or Opalinski--oh,Opalinski!"
"Of how far he is guilty, you have best proof here," put in Oskyerko;"this lady, who was his betrothed, did not find a word in his favor. Isaw clearly that she was in torment, but she was silent; for how couldshe take the part of a traitor."
"She loved him once sincerely, I know that," said Billevich. "Permitme, gentlemen, to go and see what has befallen her, as this is agrievous trial
for a woman."
"Make ready for the road!" cried the little knight, "for we shallmerely give rest to the horses. We move farther. Kyedani is too nearthis place, and Radzivill must have returned already."
"Very well!" said the noble, and he left the room.
After a while his piercing cry was heard. The knights sprang toward thesound, not knowing what had happened; the servants also ran in with thelights, and they saw Billevich raising Olenka, whom he had found lyingsenseless on the floor.
Volodyovski sprang to help him, and together they placed her on thesofa. She gave no sign of life. They began to rub her. The oldhousekeeper ran in with cordials, and at last the young lady opened hereyes.
"Nothing is the matter," said the old housekeeper; "go ye to that room,we will take care of her."
Billevich conducted his guests. "Would that this had not happened!"said the anxious host. "Could you not take that unfortunate with you,and put him out of the way somewhere on the road, and not on my place?How can I travel now, how flee, when the young woman is barely alive,on the brink of serious illness?"
"The illness is all over now," answered Volodyovski. "We will put thelady in a carriage; you must both flee, for the vengeance of Radzivillspares no man."
"The lady may recover quickly," said Pan Yan.
"A comfortable carriage is ready, with horses attached, for Kmitabrought it with him," said Volodyovski. "Go and tell the lady howthings are, and that it is impossible to delay flight. Let her collecther strength. We must go, for before to-morrow morning Radzivill'stroops may be here."
"True," answered Billevich; "I go!"
He went, and after a while returned with his niece, who had not onlycollected her strength, but was already dressed for the road. She had ahigh color on her face, and her eyes were gleaming feverishly.
"Let us go, let us go!" repeated she, entering the room.
Volodyovski went out on the porch for a moment to send men for thecarriage; then he returned, and all began to make ready for the road.
Before a quarter of an hour had passed, the roll of wheels was heardoutside the windows, and the stamping of horses' hoofs on the pavementwith which the space before the entrance was covered.
"Let us go!" said Olenka.
"To the road!" cried the officers.
That moment the door was thrown open, and Zagloba burst into the roomlike a bomb.
"I have stopped the execution!" cried he.
Olenka from being ruddy became in one moment as white as chalk; sheseemed ready to faint again; but no one paid attention to her, for alleyes were turned on Zagloba, who was panting like a whale, trying tocatch breath.
"Have you stopped the execution?" inquired Volodyovski. "Why was that?"
"Why?--Let me catch breath. This is why,--without Kmita, without thathonorable cavalier, we should all of us be hanging on trees at Kyedani.Uf! we wanted to kill our benefactor, gentlemen! Uf!"
"How can that be?" cried all, at once.
"How can it be? Read this letter; in it is the answer."
Here Zagloba gave a letter to Volodyovski. He began to read, stoppingevery moment and looking at his comrades; for it was in fact the letterin which Radzivill reproached Kmita bitterly because by his stubbornpersistence he had freed the colonels and Zagloba from death atKyedani.
"Well, what do you think?" repeated Zagloba, at each interval.
The letter ended, as we know, with the commission for Kmita to bringBillevich and his niece to Kyedani. Pan Andrei had the letter with him,apparently to show it to the sword-bearer in case of necessity, and ithad not come to that.
Above all there remained no shadow of doubt that but for Kmita the twoSkshetuskis, Volodyovski, and Zagloba would have been killed withoutmercy in Kyedani, immediately after the famous treaty with Pontus de laGardie.
"Worthy gentlemen," said Zagloba, "if you wish now to shoot him, as Godis dear to me, I will leave your company and know you no longer."
"There is nothing more to be said here!" replied Volodyovski.
"Ah!" said Skshetuski, seizing his head with both hands, "what ahappiness that father read that letter at once, instead of bringing itto us!"
"They must have fed you with starlings from childhood!" cried Mirski.
"Ha! what do you say to that?" asked Zagloba. "Every one else wouldhave put a bullet in his head. But the moment they brought me the paperwhich they found on him, something touched me, because I have by naturea universal curiosity. Two men were going ahead of me with lanterns,and they were already in the field. Said I to them, 'Give me lighthere; let me know what is in this!' I began to read. I tell you,gentlemen, there was darkness before me as if some man had thumped mybald head with his fist. 'In God's name!' said I, 'why did you not showthis letter?' And he answered, 'Because it did not suit me!' Such ahaughty fellow, even at the point of death! But didn't I seize him,embrace him? 'Benefactor,' cried I, 'without you the crows would haveeaten us already!' I gave orders to bring him back and lead him here;and I almost drove the breath out of the horse to tell you what hadhappened as quickly as possible. Uf!"
"That is a wonderful man, in whom it is clear as much good as evilresides," said Pan Stanislav. "If such would not--"
But before he had finished, the door opened and the soldiers came inwith Kmita.
"You are free," said Volodyovski, at once; "and while we are alive noneof us will attack you. What a desperate man you are, not to show usthat letter immediately! We would not have disturbed you."
Here he turned to the soldiers: "Withdraw, and every man to horse!"
The soldiers withdrew, and Pan Andrei remained alone in the middle ofthe room. He had a calm face; but it was gloomy, and he looked at theofficers standing before him, not without pride.
"You are free!" repeated Volodyovski; "go whithersoever you please,even to Radzivill, though it is painful to see a man of honorable bloodaiding a traitor to his country."
"Reflect well," answered Kmita, "for I say beforehand that I shall gonowhere else but to Radzivill."
"Join us; let the thunderbolt crush that tyrant of Kyedani!" criedZagloba. "You will be to us a friend and dear comrade; the country,your mother, will forgive your offences against her."
"It is no use," said Kmita, with energy. "God will decide who servesthe country better,--you who begin civil war on your ownresponsibility, or I, serving a lord who alone can save this ill-fatedCommonwealth. Go your own way, I will go mine. It is not time toconvert you, and the attempt is vain; but I tell you from the depth ofmy soul that you are ruining the country,--you who stand in the way ofits salvation. I do not call you traitors, for I know that yourintentions are honorable; but this is the position,--the country isperishing, Radzivill stretches a hand to it, and you thrust swords intothat hand, and in blindness make traitors of him and all those whostand by him."
"As God is true!" said Zagloba, "if I had not seen how manfully youwent to meet death, I should think that terror had disturbed your mind.To whom have you given oath,--to Radzivill or Yan Kazimir, to Sweden orthe Commonwealth? You have lost your wits!"
"I knew that it would be vain to attempt to convert you. Farewell!"
"But wait," said Zagloba; "for here is a question of importance. Tellme, did Radzivill promise that he would spare us when you intercededfor us in Kyedani?"
"He did," said Kmita. "You were to remain during the war in Birji."
"Know now your Radzivill, who betrays not only the country, not onlythe king, but his own servants." When he had said this, Zagloba gavethe hetman's letter to Kmita. He took it, and began to run over it withhis eyes; and as he read, the blood came to his face, and a blush ofshame for his own leader covered his forehead more and more. All atonce he crushed the letter in his hand, and threw it on the floor.
"Farewell!" said he. "Better I had perished at your hands!" and he wentout of the room.
"Gentlemen," said Pan Yan, after a moment's silence, "an affair withthat man is difficult, for he believes in his Radzivill as a Turk inMohammed. I th
ought myself, as you do, that he was serving him forprofit or ambition, but that is not the case. He is not a bad man, onlyan erring one."
"If he has had faith in his Mohammed hitherto, I have undermined thatfaith infernally," said Zagloba. "Did you see how he threw down theletter as soon as he had read it? There will be no small work betweenthem, for that cavalier is ready to spring at the eyes, not only ofRadzivill, but the devil. As God is dear to me, if a man had given me aherd of Turkish horses I should not be so well pleased as I am athaving saved him from death."
"It is true he owes his life to you," said Billevich; "no one will denythat."
"God be with him!" said Volodyovski; "let us take counsel what to do."
"But what? Mount and take the road; the horses have rested a little,"answered Zagloba.
"True, we should go as quickly as possible! Are you going with us?"asked Mirski of the sword-bearer.
"I cannot remain here in peace, I must go. But if you wish to take theroad at once, gentlemen, I say sincerely that it is not convenient totear away now with you. Since that man has left here alive, they willnot burn me up immediately, neither will they kill any one; and beforesuch a journey it is necessary to provide one's self with this thingand that. God knows when I shall return. It is necessary to make onearrangement and another,--to secrete the most valuable articles, sendmy cattle to the neighbors, pack trunks. I have also a little readymoney which I would take with me. I shall be ready to-morrow atdaybreak; but to go now, in seize-grab fashion, I cannot."
"On our part we cannot wait, for the sword is hanging over our heads,"said Volodyovski. "And where do you wish to take refuge?"
"In the wilderness, as you advised. At least, I shall leave the maidenthere; for I am not yet old, and my poor sabre may be of use to thecountry and the king."
"Farewell! God grant us to meet in better times!"
"God reward you, gentlemen, for coming to rescue me. Doubtless we shallsee one another in the field."
"Good health!"
"Happy journey!"
They began to take farewell of one another, and then each came to bowdown before Panna Billevich.
"You will see my wife and little boys in the wilderness: embrace themfor me, and bloom in good health," said Pan Yan.
"Remember at times the soldier, who, though he had no success in youreyes, is always glad to bend the skies for you."
After them others approached, and last Zagloba.
"Receive, charming flower, farewell from an old man too. Embrace PaniSkshetuski and my little stumps. They are boys in a hundred!"
Instead of an answer, Olenka seized his hand, and pressed it in silenceto her lips.
The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 1 (of 2) Page 25