The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 2 (of 2)

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER XLIII.

  After his conversation with Sakovich, Prince Boguslav betook himself onthe afternoon of the morrow directly to Billevich.

  "My benefactor," said he, to begin with, "I was grievously to blame thelast time we met, for I fell into anger in my own house. It is myfault, and all the more so that I gave this affront to a man of afamily friendly to the Radzivills. But I come to implore forgiveness.Let a sincere confession be satisfaction to you, and my atonement. Youknow the Radzivills of old; you know that we are not in haste to begpardon; still, since I was to blame before age and dignity, I comewithout considering who I am, with a penitent head. And you, old friendof our house, will not refuse me your hand, I am certain."

  Then he extended his hand; and Billevich, in whose soul the firstoutburst had passed, did not dare to refuse his own, though he gave itwith hesitation.

  "Your highness, return to us our freedom; that will be the bestsatisfaction."

  "You are free, and may go, even to-day."

  "I thank your highness," said the astonished Billevich.

  "I interpose only one condition, which you, God grant, will notreject."

  "What is that?" asked Billevich, with fear.

  "That you listen patiently to what I am going to say."

  "If that is all, I will listen even till evening."

  "Do not give me your answer at once, but think an hour or two."

  "God sees that if I receive my freedom I wish peace."

  "You will receive your freedom; but I do not know whether you will useit, or whether you will be urgent to leave my threshold. I should beglad were you to consider my house and all Taurogi as your own; butlisten to me now. Do you know, my benefactor, why I was opposed to thedeparture of Panna Billevich? This is why,--because I divined that youwished to flee simply; and I have fallen in love with your niece, sothat to see her I should be ready to swim a Hellespont each day, likeLeander."

  Billevich grew red again in a moment. "Does your highness dare to saythat to me?"

  "To you especially, my benefactor."

  "Worthy prince, seek your fortune with court ladies, but touch notnoble maidens. You may imprison her, you may confine her in a vault,but you may not disgrace her."

  "I may not disgrace her," said the prince; "but I may bow down to theold man Billevich, and say to him, 'Listen, father, give me your nieceas wife, for I cannot live without her.'"

  The sword-bearer was so amazed that he could not utter a word; for atime he merely moved his mustaches, and his eyes were staring; then hebegan to rub his hands and look, now on the prince, now around theroom; at last he said,--

  "Is this in a dream, or is it real?"

  "Do not hasten! To convince you still better, I will repeat with allthe titles: I, Boguslav, Prince Radzivill, Marshal of the GrandPrincipality of Lithuania, ask you, Tomash Billevich, sword-bearer ofRossyeni, for the hand of your niece, Panna Aleksandra, chief-hunter'sdaughter."

  "Is this true? In God's name! have you considered the matter?"

  "I have considered; now do you consider, my benefactor, whether thecavalier is worthy of the lady."

  "My breath is stopped from wonder."

  "Now see if I had any evil intentions."

  "And would your highness not consider our small station?"

  "Are the Billeviches so cheap? Do you value your shield of nobility andthe antiquity of your family thus? Does a Billevich say this?"

  "I know, gracious prince, that the origin of our family is to be soughtin ancient Rome; but--"

  "But," interrupted the prince, "you have neither hetmans norchancellors. That is nothing! You are soldiers, like my uncle inBrandenburg. Since a noble in our Commonwealth may be elected king,there are no thresholds too lofty for his feet. My sword-bearer and,God grant, my uncle, I was born of a Brandenburg princess; my father'smother was an Ostrogski; but my grandfather of mighty memory, KryshtofI., he whom they called Thunder, grand hetman, chancellor, and voevodaof Vilna, was married the first time to Panna Sobek; but for thisreason the coronet did not fall from his head, for Panna Sobek was anoble woman, as honorably born as others. When my late father marriedthe daughter of the elector, they wondered why he did not remember hisown dignity, though he allied himself with a reigning house. Such isthe devilish pride of you nobles! But acknowledge, my benefactor, youdo not think a Sobek better than a Billevich, do you?"

  Speaking thus, the prince began to tap the old man on the shoulder withgreat familiarity. The noble melted like wax, and answered,--

  "God reward your highness for honorable intentions! A weight has fallenfrom my heart! But now, if it were not for difference of faith!"

  "A Catholic priest will perform the ceremony. I do not want anothermyself."

  "I shall be thankful for this all my life, since here it is a questionof the blessing of God, which certainly the Lord Jesus would withdrawif some vile--"

  Here the old man bit his tongue, for he saw that he was sayingsomething disagreeable to the prince. But Boguslav did not notice it;he smiled graciously and said,--

  "And as to posterity, I shall not be stubborn; for there is nothingthat I would not do for that beauty of yours."

  Billevich's face grew bright as if a ray of the sun had fallen on it;"Indeed, God has not been sparing of beauty to her, it is true. Oh!there will be a shout all over Jmud. And what will the Sitsinskis saywhen the Billeviches increase so? They would not leave the old colonelat rest, though he was a man of Roman mould, respected by the wholeCommonwealth."

  "We will drive them out of Jmud, worthy Sword-bearer,"

  "O great God, merciful God! undiscoverable are Thy judgments; but if inthem it lies that the Sitsinskis are to burst from envy, then let Thywill be done!"

  "Amen!" added Boguslav.

  "Your highness, do not take it ill that I do not clothe myself indignity, as befits a person of whom a man asks a maiden, and that Ishow too evident rejoicing. But we have been here in vexation, notknowing what was awaiting us and interpreting everything for the worst.It came to this that we thought evil of your highness, until it turnsout that our fears and judgments were not just, and that we may returnto our previous homage. I say this as if some one had taken a burdenfrom my shoulders."

  "And did Panna Aleksandra judge me thus?"

  "She? Even Cicero could not have described properly her previousadmiration for your highness. I think that only virtue and a certaininborn timidity stood in the way of love. But when she hears of thesincere intentions of your highness, then I am sure she will at oncegive the reins to her heart."

  "Cicero could not have said that better!" said Boguslav.

  "With happiness comes eloquence. But since your highness has beenpleased to listen to everything I have said, then I will be sincere tothe last."

  "Be sincere, Pan Billevich."

  "Though this maiden is young, she is a woman with a man's cast of mindaltogether; it is wonderful what a character she has. Where more thanone man of experience would hesitate, she hesitates not a moment. Whatis evil she puts on the left, what is good on the right, and goesherself to the right as if it were sweet. When she has once chosen theroad, even though there were cannon before her, that is nothing to her!She would not go aside for the cannon. She is like her grandfather andme. Her father was a born soldier, but mild; her mother, from the houseof Voynillovich, was also strong-willed."

  "I am glad to hear this, Pan Billevich."

  "Your highness will not believe how incensed she is against the Swedes,and all enemies of the Commonwealth. If she held any one guilty oftreason, she would feel an utter detestation of him, though he were anangel and not a human being. Your highness,--forgive an old man whomight be your father in years, if not in dignity,--leave the Swedes;they are worse for the country than Tartars! Move your troops againstsuch sons, and not only I, but she, will follow you to the field.Pardon me, your highness, pardon me. Now I have said what I had on mymind."

  Boguslav mastered himself after a moment's
silence, and said: "Mybenefactor, you might have supposed yesterday, but you may not supposeto-day that I wish merely to throw sand in your eyes, when I say that Iam on the side of the king and the country. Here under oath to you as arelative I repeat that what I stated touching peace and its conditionswas the pure truth. I, too, should prefer to march to the field, for mynature draws me thither; but because I saw that salvation was not inthe field, I was forced through simple devotion to seize anothermethod. And I can say that I have accomplished an unheard of thing; forafter a last war to conclude a peace of such kind that the conqueringpower serves the conquered,--of this Mazarin, the most cunning of men,need not be ashamed. Not Panna Aleksandra alone, but I equally withher, bear hatred to the enemy. But what is to be done? How save thiscountry? Not even Hercules against many can conquer. Therefore Ithought thus, 'Instead of destroying, which would be easier and moreamusing, it is needful to save.' And since I had practised in affairsof this kind with great statesmen, since I am a relative of theelector, and since, by reason of my cousin Yanush, I am well consideredby the Swedes, I began negotiations; and what their course was and whatthe benefit to the Commonwealth was, that you know,--an end of the war,freedom from oppression for your Catholic faith, for churches, forclergy, for the estate of nobles, and for the common people; theassistance of the Swedes in the war against Moscow and the Cossacks;and, God grant, an extension of boundary. And this all on onecondition,--that Karl Gustav be king after Yan Kazimir. Whoso has donemore for his country in these times, let him stand before my eyes."

  "True, a blind man could see that; but it will be very sad for thenobles that a free election will cease."

  "And which is more important,--an election or the country?"

  "They are the same, your highness; for an election is the main basis ofthe Commonwealth. And what is the country, if not a collection of laws,privileges, and liberties serving the nobles? A king can be found evenin a foreign land."

  Anger and disgust flew like lightning over Boguslav's face.

  "Karl Gustav," said he, "will sign the _pacta conventa_, as hispredecessors have signed it; and after his death we will elect whom wechoose, even that Radzivill who will be born of your niece."

  The sword-bearer stood for a while as if dazzled by the thought; atlast he raised his hand and cried with great enthusiasm,--

  "_Consentior_ (I agree)!"

  "I think, too, that you would agree, even if the throne should becomehereditary in our family. Such are you all! But that is a laterquestion. Now it is necessary that the stipulations come to reality.You understand, my uncle?"

  "As true as life, it is necessary!" repeated Billevich, with deepconviction.

  "They must for this reason,--that I am a mediator agreeable to hisSwedish Majesty, and do you know for what reasons? Karl Gustav has onesister married to De la Gardie, and another, Princess Bipont, stillunmarried; and he wishes to give her to me, so as to be allied to ourhouse and have a party in Lithuania. Hence his favor toward me, towhich my uncle, the elector, inclines him."

  "How is that?" asked the disquieted sword-bearer.

  "I would give all the princesses of Bipont[7] for your dove, togetherwith the principalities, not only of the two, but of all the bridges inthe world. But I may not anger the Swedish beast, therefore I givewilling ear to their discussions; but only let them sign the treaty,then we shall see."

  "Would they be ready then not to sign if they should discover that youwere married?"

  "Worthy sword-bearer," said the prince, with seriousness, "you havecondemned me of crookedness toward the country; but I, as a truecitizen, ask you, have I a right to sacrifice public affairs to myprivate interests?"

  Pan Tomash listened. "What will happen then?"

  "Think to yourself what must happen."

  "As God is true, I see already that the marriage must be deferred; andthe proverb says; 'What is deferred, escapes.'"

  "I will not change my heart, for I have fallen in love for life. Youmust know that for faithfulness I could put to shame the most enduringPenelope."

  Billevich was alarmed still more; for he had an entirely oppositeopinion touching the prince's constancy, confirmed as it was byBoguslav's general reputation. But the prince added, as if for afinishing stroke,--

  "You are right, that no one is sure of his to-morrow. I may fall ill;nay, some kind of sickness is coming on me even now, for yesterday Igrew so rigid that Sakovich barely saved me. I may fall in a campaignagainst Sapyeha; and what delays, what troubles and vexations therewill be, could not be written on an ox-hide."

  "By the wounds of God, give advice, your highness."

  "What advice can I give?" asked the prince. "Though I should be gladmyself to have the latch fall as soon as possible."

  "Well, let it fall. Marry, and then what will be, will be."

  Boguslav sprang to his feet.

  "By the holy Gospel! With your wit you should be chancellor ofLithuania. Another man would not have thought out in three days whathas come to your mind in a twinkle. That is it! marry, and remainquiet. There is sense in that! As it is, I shall march in two daysagainst Sapyeha, for I must. During that time secret passages to thelady's chamber can be made; and then to the road! That is the head of astatesman! We will let two or three confidants into the secret, andtake them as witnesses, so that the marriage may be formal. I willwrite a contract, secure the jointure, to which I will add a bequest;and let there be silence for the time. My benefactor, I thank you; frommy heart, I thank you. Come to my arms, and then go to my beauty. Iwill wait for her answer, as if on coals. Meanwhile I will sendSakovich for the priest. Be well, father, and, God grant soon, thegrandfather of a Radzivill."

  When he had said this, he let the astonished noble go from his embrace,and rushed out of the room.

  "For God's sake!" said the sword-bearer, recovering himself. "I gavesuch wise advice that Solomon himself would not be ashamed of it, and Ishould prefer to do without it. A secret is a secret; but break yourhead, crush your forehead against a wall, it cannot be otherwise. Ablind man can see that! Would that the frost might oppress and killthose Swedes to the last! If it were not for those negotiations, themarriage would take place with ceremony, and all Jmud would come to thewedding. But here a husband must walk to his wife on felt, so as not tomake noise. Tfu, to the deuce! The Sitsinskis will not burst so soon.Yet, praise be to God! that bursting will not miss them."

  When he had said this, he went to Olenka. Meanwhile the prince wastaking further counsel with Sakovich.

  "The old man danced on two paws like a bear," said the prince; "but hetormented the life out of me. Uf! but I squeezed him so that I thoughtthat the boots and straw would fly off his feet. And when I called him'Uncle,' his eyes stuck out, as if a keg of cabbage hash were chokinghim. Tfu! tfu! wait! I will make you uncle; but I have scores uponscores of such uncles throughout the whole world. Sakovich, I see howshe is waiting for me in her room; and she will receive me with hereyes closed and her hands crossed. Wait, I will kiss those eyes foryou--Sakovich, you will receive for life the estate of Prudy, beyondOshmiana. When can Plaska be here?"

  "Before evening. I thank your highness for Prudy."

  "That is nothing! Before evening? That means any moment. If theceremony could be performed to-day, even before midnight! Have you thecontract ready?"

  "I have. I was liberal in the name of your highness. I assigned Birjias the jointure of the lady. The sword-bearer will howl like a dog whenit is taken from him afterward."

  "He will sit in a dungeon, then he will be quiet."

  "Even that will not be needed. As soon as the marriage is invalid, allwill be invalid. But did I not tell you that they would agree?"

  "He did not make the least difficulty. I am curious to know what shewill say. I care nothing about him!"

  "Oh, they have fallen each into the arms of the other, are weeping fromemotion, are blessing your highness, and are carried away by yourkindness and beauty."

  "I don't know that they are by my bea
uty; for in some way I lookwretched. I am all the time out of health, and I am afraid thatyesterday's numbness will come again."

  "No; you will take something warm."

  The prince was already before the mirror.

  "It is blue under my eyes. And that fool, Fouret, darkened my eyebrowscrooked. See if they are not crooked! I'll give orders to thumbscrewhim, and make a monkey my body-servant. Why does the old man not come?I should like to go to the lady now, for she will permit me to kiss herbefore the marriage. How quickly it grows dark to-day! If Plaskaflinches, we must put pincers into the fire."

  "Plaska will not flinch. He is a scoundrel from under a dark star."

  "And he will perform the marriage in scoundrel fashion?"

  "A scoundrel will perform the marriage for a scoundrel in scoundrelfashion."

  The prince fell into good humor, and said,--

  "When there is a pander for best man, there cannot be another kind ofmarriage."

  For a while they were silent; then both began to laugh. But theirlaughter sounded with marvellous ill-omen through the dark room. Nightfell deeper and deeper.

  The prince began to walk through the room, striking audibly with hishammer-staff, on which he leaned heavily, for his feet did not servehim well after the last numbness.

  Now the servants brought in candelabra with candles, and went out; butthe rush of air bent the flames of the candles, so that for a long timethey did not burn straight upward, melting meanwhile much wax.

  "See how the caudles are burning!" said the prince. "What do youprophesy from that?"

  "That one virtue will melt to-day like wax."

  "It is wonderful how long that talk lasts."

  "Maybe the spirit of old Billevich is flying over the flames."

  "You are a fool!" answered Boguslav, abruptly. "You have chosen a timeto talk of spirits!"

  Silence followed.

  "They say in England," said the prince, "that when there is a spirit inthe room every light burns blue; but see, now they are burning yellow,as usual."

  "Trash!" answered Sakovich. "There are people in Moscow--"

  "But be still!" interrupted Boguslav. "The sword-bearer is coming. No!that is the wind moving the shutters. The devils have brought that oldmaid of an aunt, Kulvyets-Hippocentaurus! Has any one ever heard of thelike? And she looks like a chimera."

  "If you wish, your highness, I'll marry her; then she will not be inthe way, Plaska will solder us while you are waiting."

  "Well, I will give her a maple spade as a marriage present, and you alantern, so as to have something to light her way."

  "I will not be your uncle--Bogus."

  "Remember Castor," answered the prince.

  "Do not stroke Castor, my Pollux, against the grain, for he can bite."

  Further conversation was interrupted by the sword-bearer and PannaKulvyets. The prince stepped up to him quickly, leaning on his hammer.Sakovich rose.

  "Well, what? May I go to Olenka?" asked the prince.

  The sword-bearer spread out his arms and dropped his head on hisbreast.

  "Your highness, my niece says that Colonel Billevich's will forbids herto decide her own fate; and even if it did not forbid, she would notmarry your highness, not having the heart to do so."

  "Sakovich, do you hear?" said Boguslav, with a terrible voice.

  "I too knew of that will," continued the sword-bearer, "but at thefirst moment I did not think it an invincible impediment."

  "I jeer at the wills of you nobles," said the prince; "I spit on yourwills! Do you understand?"

  "But we do not jeer at them," said the aroused Pan Tomash; "andaccording to the will the maiden is free to enter the cloister or marryKmita."

  "Whom, you sorry fellow? Kmita? I'll show you Kmita! I'll teach you!"

  "Whom do you call sorry fellow,--a Billevich?"

  And the sword-bearer caught at his side in the greatest fury; butBoguslav, in one moment, struck him on the breast with his hammer, sothat Billevich groaned and fell to the floor. The prince then kickedhim aside, to open a way to the door, and rushed from the room withouta hat.

  "Jesus! Mary! Joseph!" cried Panna Kulvyets.

  But Sakovich, seizing her by the shoulder, put a dagger to her breast,and said,--

  "Quiet, my little jewel, quiet, dearest dove, or I will cut thy sweetthroat, like that of a lame hen. Sit here quietly, and go not upstairsto thy niece's wedding."

  But in Panna Kulvyets there was knightly blood too; therefore she hadbarely heard the words of Sakovich, when straightway her terror passedinto despair and frenzy.

  "Ruffian! bandit! pagan!" cried she; "slay me, for I will shout to thewhole Commonwealth. The brother killed, the niece disgraced, I do notwish to live! Strike, slay, robber! People, come see!"

  Sakovich stifled further words by putting his powerful hand over hermonth.

  "Quiet, crooked distaff, dried rue!" said he; "I will not cut thythroat, for why should I give the Devil that which is his anyhow? Butlest thou scream like a peacock before roosting, I will tie up thypretty mouth with thy kerchief, and take a lute and play to thee of'sighs.' It cannot be but thou wilt love me."

  So saying, the starosta of Oshmiana, with the dexterity of a genuinepickpocket, encircled the head of Panna Kulvyets with her handkerchief,tied her hands in the twinkle of an eye, and threw her on the sofa;then he sat by her, and stretching himself out comfortably, asked heras calmly as though he had begun an ordinary conversation,--

  "Well, what do you think? I suppose Bogus will get on as easily as Ihave."

  With that he sprang to his feet, for the door opened, and in itappeared Panna Aleksandra. Her face was as white as chalk, her hair wassomewhat dishevelled, her brows were frowning, and threat was in hereyes. Seeing her uncle on the floor, she knelt near him and passed herhand over his head and breast.

  The sword-bearer drew a deep breath, opened his eyes, half raisedhimself, and began to look around in the room, as if roused from sleep;then resting his hand on the floor, he tried to rise, which he didafter a while with the help of the lady; then he came with totteringstep to a chair, into which he threw himself. Only now did Olenka seePanna Kulvyets lying on the sofa.

  "Have you murdered her?" asked she of Sakovich.

  "God preserve me!" answered the starosta of Oshmiana.

  "I command you to unbind her!"

  There was such power in that voice that Sakovich said not a word, as ifthe command had come from Princess Radzivill herself, and began tounbind the unconscious Panna Kulvyets.

  "And now," said the lady, "go to your master, who is lying up there."

  "What has happened?" cried Sakovich, coming to himself. "You willanswer for him!"

  "Not to thee, serving-man! Be off!"

  Sakovich sprang out of the chamber as if possessed.