CHAPTER V.
The prince was the first to take the floor at the consultation and spokeas follows:
"It is bad that we have no writing nor testimony against the counts.Although our suspicions may be justified, and I myself think that theyand nobody else captured Jurand's daughter, still what of it? They willdeny it. And if the grand master asks for proofs, what shall I show him?Bah! even Jurand's letter speaks in their favor."
Here he turned to Zbyszko:
"You say that they forced this letter from him with threats. It ispossible, and undoubtedly it is so, because if justice were on theirside, God would not have helped you against Rotgier. But since theyextorted one, then they could extort also two. And perhaps they haveevidence from Jurand, that they are not guilty of the capture of thisunfortunate girl. And if so, they will show it to the master and whatwill happen then?"
"Why, they admitted themselves, gracious lord, that they recaptured herfrom bandits and that she is with them now."
"I know that. But they say now that they were mistaken, and that this isanother girl, and the best proof is that Jurand himself disclaimed her."
"He disclaimed her because they showed him another girl, and that is whatexasperated him."
"Surely it was so, but they can say that these are only our ideas."
"Their lies," said Mikolaj of Dlugolas, "are like a pine forest. From theedge a little way is visible, but the deeper one goes the greater is thedensity, so that a man goes astray and loses his way entirely."
He then repeated his words in German to de Lorche, who said:
"The grand master himself is better than they are, also his brother,although he has a daring soul, but it guards knightly honor."
"Yes," replied Mikolaj. "The master is humane. He cannot restrain thecounts, nor the assembly, and it is not his fault that everything in theOrder is based upon human wrongs, but he cannot help it. Go, go, Sir deLorche, and tell him what has happened here. They are more ashamed beforestrangers than before us, lest they should tell of their outrages anddishonest actions at foreign courts. And should the master ask forproofs, then tell him this: 'To know the truth is divine, to seek it ishuman, therefore if you wish proofs, lord, then seek them.' Order thecastles to be summoned and the people to be questioned, allow us tosearch, because it is foolishness and a lie that this orphan was stolenby bandits of the woods."
"Folly and lies!" repeated de Lorche.
"Because bandits would not dare to attack the princely court, norJurand's child. And even if they should have captured her, it would beonly for ransom, and they alone would inform us that they had her."
"I shall narrate all that," said the Lotaringen, "and also find vonBergow. We are from the same country, and although I don't know him, theysay that he is a relative of Duke Geldryi's. He was at Szczytno andshould tell the master what he saw."
Zbyszko understood a few of his words, and whatever he did not, Mikolajexplained to him; he then embraced de Lorche so tightly that the knightalmost groaned.
The prince again said to Zbyszko:
"And are you also absolutely determined to go?"
"Absolutely, gracious lord. What else am I to do? I vowed to seizeSzczytno, even if I had to bite the walls with my teeth, but how can Ideclare war without permission?"
"Whoever began war without permission, would rue it under theexecutioner's sword," said the prince.
"It is certainly the law of laws," replied Zbyszko. "Bah! I wished thento challenge all who were in Szczytno, but people said that Jurandslaughtered them like cattle, and I did not know who was alive and whodead.... Because, may God and the Holy Cross help me, I will not desertJurand till the last moment!"
"You speak nobly and worthily," said Mikolaj of Dlugolas. "And it provesthat you were sensible not to go alone to Szczytno, because even a foolwould have known that they would keep neither Jurand nor his daughterthere, but undoubtedly would carry them away to some other castle. Godrewarded your arrival here with Rotgier."
"And now!" said the prince, "as we heard from Rotgier, of those four onlyold Zygfried is alive, and the others God has punished already either byyour hand or Jurand's. As for Zygfried, he is less of a rascal than theothers, but perhaps the more ruthless tyrant. It is bad that Jurand andDanusia are in his power, and they must be saved quickly. In order thatno accident may happen to you, I will give you a letter to the grandmaster. Listen and understand me well, that you do not go as a messenger,but as a delegate, and write to the master as follows: Since they hadonce made an attempt upon our person, in carrying off a descendant oftheir benefactors, it is most likely now, that they have also carried offJurand's daughter, especially having a grudge against Jurand. I asktherefore of the master to order a diligent search, and if he is anxiousto have my friendship, to restore her instantly to your hands."
Zbyszko, hearing this, fell at the prince's feet, and, embracing them,said:
"But Jurand, gracious lord, Jurand? Will you intercede also in hisbehalf! If he has mortal wounds, let him at least die in his own home andwith his children."
"There is also mention made of Jurand," said the prince, kindly. "He isto appoint two judges and I two also to investigate the counts' andJurand's actions, according to the rules of knightly honor. And theyagain will select a fifth to preside over them, and it will be as theydecide."
With this, the council terminated, after which Zbyszko took leave of theprince, because they were soon to start on their journey. But beforetheir departure, Mikolaj of Dlugolas, who had experience and knew theTeutons well, called Zbyszko aside and inquired:
"And will you take that Bohemian fellow along with you to the Germans?"
"Surely, he will not leave me. But why?"
"Because I feel sorry for him. He is a worthy fellow, but mark what Isay: you will return from Malborg safe and sound, unless you meet abetter man in combat, but his destruction is sure."
"But why?"
"Because the dog-brothers accused him of having stabbed de Fourcy todeath. They must have informed the master of his death, and theydoubtless said that the Bohemian shed his blood. They will not forgivethat in Malborg. A trial and vengeance await him because, how can hisinnocence be proven to the master. Why, he even crushed Danveld's arm,who is a relative of the grand master. I am sorry for him, I repeat, ifhe goes it is to his death."
"He will not go to his death, because I shall leave him in Spychow."
But it happened otherwise, as reasons arose whereby the Bohemian did notremain in Spychow. Zbyszko and de Lorche started with their suites thefollowing morning. De Lorche, whose marriage to Ulryka von Elner, FatherWyszoniek dissolved, rode away happy and, with his mind entirely occupiedwith the comeliness of Jagienka of Dlugolas, was silent. Zbyszko, notbeing able to talk with him about Danusia also, because they could notunderstand each other very well, conversed with Hlawa, who until now hadknown nothing about the intended expedition into the Teutonic regions.
"I am going to Malborg," he said, "but God knows when I shall return....Perhaps soon, in the spring, in a year, and perhaps not at all, do youunderstand?"
"I do. Your honor also is surely going to challenge the knights there.And God grant that with every knight there is a shield-bearer!"
"No," replied Zbyszko. "I am not going for the purpose of challengingthem, unless it comes of itself; but you will not go with me at all, butremain at home in Spychow."
Hearing this, the Bohemian at first fretted and began to complainsorrowfully, and then he begged his young lord not to leave him behind.
"I swore that I would not leave you. I swore upon the cross and my honor.And if your honor should meet with an accident, how could I appear beforethe lady in Zgorzelice! I swore to her, lord! Therefore have mercy uponme, and not disgrace me before her."
"And did you not swear to her to obey me?" asked Zbyszko.
"Certainly! In everything, but not that I should leave you. If your honordrives me away, I shall go ahead, so as to be at hand in case ofnecessity."
&n
bsp; "I do not, nor will I drive you away," replied Zbyszko; "but it would bea bondage to me if I could not send you anywhere, even the least way, norseparate from you for even one day. You would not stand constantly overme, like a hangman over a good soul! And as to the combat, how will youhelp me? I do not speak of war, because these people fight in troops,and, in a single combat, you certainly will not fight for me. If Rotgierwere stronger than I, his armor would not lie on my wagon, but mine onhis. And besides, know that I should have greater difficulties there ifwith you, and that you might expose me to dangers."
"How so, your honor?"
Then Zbyszko began to tell him what he had heard from Mikolaj ofDlugolas, that the counts, not being able to account for de Fourcy'smurder, would accuse him and prosecute him revengefully.
"And if they catch you," he said, finally, "then I certainly cannot leaveyou with them as in dogs' jaws, and may lose my head."
The Bohemian became gloomy when he heard these words, because he felt thetruth in them; he nevertheless endeavored to alter the arrangementaccording to his desire.
"But those who saw me are not alive any more, because some, as they say,were killed by the old lord, while you slew Rotgier."
"The footmen who followed at a distance saw you, and the old Teuton isalive, and is surely now in Malborg, and if he is not there yet he willarrive, because the master, with God's permission, will summon him."
He could not reply to that, they therefore rode on in silence to Spychow.They found there complete readiness for war, because old Tolima expectedthat either the Teutons would attack the small castle, or that Zbyszko,on his return, would lead them to the succor of the old lord. Guards wereon watch everywhere, on the paths through the marshes and in the castleitself. The peasants were armed, and, as war was nothing new to them,they awaited the Germans with eagerness, promising themselves excellentbooty.
Father Kaleb received Zbyszko and de Lorche in the castle, and,immediately after supper, showed them the parchment with Jurand's seal,in which he had written with his own hand the last will of the knight ofSpychow.
"He dictated it to me," he said, "the night he went to Szczytno". And--hedid not expect to return."
"But why did you say nothing?"
"I said nothing, because he admitted his intentions to me under the sealof confession."
"May God give him eternal peace, and may the light of glory shine uponhim...."
"Do not say prayers for him. He is still alive. I know it from the TeutonRotgier, with whom I had a combat at the prince's court. There was God'sjudgment between us and I killed him."
"Then Jurand will undoubtedly not return ... unless with God's help!..."
"I go with this knight to tear him from their hands."
"Then you know not, it seems, Teutonic hands, but I know them, because,before Jurand took me to Spychow, I was priest for fifteen years in theircountry. God alone can save Jurand."
"And He can help us too."
"Amen!"
He then unfolded the document and began to read. Jurand bequeathed allhis estates and his entire possessions to Danusia and her offspring, but,in case of her death without issue, to her husband Zbyszko of Bogdaniec.He finally recommended his will to the prince's care; so that, in case itcontained anything unlawful, the prince's grace might make it lawful.This clause was added because Father Kaleb knew only the canon law, andJurand himself, engaged exclusively in war, only knew the knightly. Afterhaving read the document to Zbyszko, the priest read it to the officersof the Spychow garrison, who at once recognized the young knight as theirlord, and promised obedience.
They also thought that Zbyszko would soon lead them to the assistance ofthe old lord, and they were glad, because their hearts were fierce andanxious for war, and attached to Jurand. They were seized with grief whenthey heard that they would remain at home, and that the lord with a smallfollowing was going to Malborg, not to fight, but to formulatecomplaints.
The Bohemian Glowacz, shared their grief, although on the other hand, hewas glad on account of such a large increase of Zbyszko's wealth.
"Hej! who would be delighted," he said, "if not the old lord ofBogdaniec! And he could govern here! What is Bogdaniec in comparison withsuch a possession!"
But Zbyszko was suddenly seized with yearning for his uncle, as itfrequently happened to him, especially in hard and difficult questions inlife; therefore, turning to the warrior, he said on the impulse:
"Why should you sit here in idleness! Go to Bogdaniec, you shall carry aletter for me."
"If I am not to go with your honor, then I would rather go there!"replied the delighted squire.
"Call Father Kaleb to write in a proper manner all that has happenedhere, and the letter will be read to my uncle by the priest of Krzesnia,or the abbot, if he is in Zgorzelice."
But as he said this, he struck his moustache with his hand and added, asif to himself:
"Bah! the abbot!..."
And instantly Jagienka arose before his eyes, blue-eyed, dark-haired,tall and beautiful, with tears on her eyelashes! He became embarrassedand rubbed his forehead for a time, but finally he said:
"You will feel sad, girl, but not worse than I."
Meanwhile Father Kaleb arrived and immediately began to write. Zbyszkodictated to him at length everything that had happened from the moment hehad arrived at the Forest Court. He did not conceal anything, because heknew that old Macko, when he had a clear view of the matter, would beglad in the end. Bogdaniec could not be compared with Spychow, which wasa large and rich estate, and Zbyszko knew that Macko cared a great dealfor such things.
But when the letter, after great toil, was written and sealed, Zbyszkoagain called his squire, and handed him the letter, saying:
"You will perhaps return with my uncle, which would delight me verymuch."
But the Bohemian seemed to be embarrassed; he tarried, shifted from onefoot to another, and did not depart, until the young knight remarked:
"Have you anything to say yet, then do so."
"I should like, your honor ..." replied the Bohemian, "I should like toinquire yet, what to tell the people?"
"Which people?"
"Not those in Bogdaniec, but in the neighborhood.... Because they willsurely like to find out!"
At that Zbyszko, who determined not to conceal anything, looked at himsharply and said:
"You do not care for the people, but for Jagienka of Zgorzelice."
And the Bohemian flushed, and then turned somewhat pale and replied:
"For her, lord!"
"And how do you know that she has not got married to Cztan of Rogow, orto Wilk of Brzozowa?"
"The lady has not got married at all," firmly answered the warrior.
"The abbot may have ordered her."
"The abbot obeys the lady, not she him."
"What do you wish then? Tell the truth to her as well as to all."
The Bohemian bowed and left somewhat angry.
"May God grant," he said to himself, thinking of Zbyszko, "that she mayforget you. May God give her a better man than you are. But if she hasnot forgotten you, then I shall tell her that you are married, butwithout a wife, and that you may become a widower before you have enteredthe bedchamber."
But the warrior was attached to Zbyszko and pitied Danusia, though heloved Jagienka above all in this world, and from the time before the lastbattle in Ciechanow, when he had heard of Zbyszko's marriage, he borepain and bitterness in his heart.
"That you may first become a widower!" he repeated.
But then other, and apparently gentler, thoughts began to enter his head,because, while going down to the horses, he said:
"God be blessed that I shall at least embrace her feet!"
Meanwhile Zbyszko was impatient to start, because feverishness consumedhim,--and the affairs of necessity that occupied his attention increasedhis tortures, thinking constantly of Danusia and Jurand. It wasnecessary, however, to remain in Spychow for one night at least, for thesake of de Lorche,
and the preparations which such a long journeyrequired. He was finally utterly worn out from the fight, watch, journey,sleeplessness and worry. Late in the evening, therefore, he threw himselfupon Jurand's hard bed, in the hope of falling into a short sleep atleast. But before he fell asleep, Sanderus knocked at his door, entered,and bowing, said:
"Lord, you saved me from death, and I was well off with you, as scarcelyever before. God has given you now a large estate, so that you arewealthier than before, and moreover the Spychow treasury is not empty.Give me, lord, some kind of a moneybag, and I will go to Prussia, fromcastle to castle, and although it may not be very safe there, I maypossibly do you some service."
Zbyszko, who at the first moment had wished to throw him out of the room,reflected upon his words, and after a moment, pulled from his travelingbag near his bed, a fair-sized bag, threw it to him and said:
"Take it, and go! If you are a rogue you will cheat, if honest--you willserve."
"I shall cheat as a rogue, sir," said Sanderus, "but not you, and I willhonestly serve you."
Zygfried von Loeve was just about to depart for Malborg when the postmanunexpectedly brought him a letter from Rotgier with news from theMazovian court. This news moved the old Knight of the Cross to the quick.First of all, it was obvious from the letter that Rotgier had perfectlyconducted and represented the Jurand affair before Prince Janusz.Zygfried smiled on reading that Rotgier had further requested the princeto deliver up Spychow to the Order as a recompense for the wrong done.But the other part of the letter contained unexpected and lessadvantageous tidings. Rotgier further informed him that in order betterto demonstrate the guiltlessness of the Order in the abduction of theJurands, the gauntlet was thrown down to the Mazovian knights,challenging everybody who doubted, to God's judgment, i.e., to fight inthe presence of the whole court. "None has taken it up," Rotgiercontinued, "because all saw that in his letter Jurand himself bearstestimony for us, moreover they feared God's judgment, but a youth, thesame we saw in the forest court, came forward and picked up the gauntlet.Do not wonder then, O pious and wise brother, for that is the cause of mydelay in returning. Since I have challenged, I am obliged to stand. Andsince I have done it for the glory of the Order, I trust that neither thegrand master nor you whom I honor and heartily love with filial affectionwill count it ill. The adversary is quite a child, and as you know, I amnot a novice in fighting, it will then be an easy matter for me to shedhis blood for the glory of the Order, especially with the help of Christ,who cares more for those who bear His cross than for a certain Jurand orfor the wrong done to a Mazovian girl!" Zygfried was most surprised atthe news that Jurand's daughter was a married woman. The thought thatthere was a possibility of a fresh menacing and revengeful enemy settlingat Spychow inspired even the old count with alarm. "It is clear," he saidto himself, "that he will not neglect to avenge himself, and much more sowhen he shall have received his wife and she tells him that we carriedher off from the forest court! Yes, it would be at once evident that webrought Jurand here for the purpose of destroying him, and that nobodyever thought of restoring his daughter to him." At this thought it struckZygfried that owing to the prince's letters, the grand master would mostlikely institute an investigation in Szczytno so that he might at leastclear himself in the eyes of the prince, since it was important for thegrand master and the chapter to have the Mazovian prince on their side incase of war with the powerful king of Poland. To disregard the strengthof the prince in face of the multitude of the Mazovian nobility was notto be lightly undertaken. To be at peace with them fully insured theknights' frontiers and permitted them better to concentrate theirstrength. They had often spoken about it in the presence of Zygfried atMalborg, and often entertained the hope, that after having subdued theking, a pretext would be found later against the Mazovians and then nopower could wrest that land from their hands. That was a great and surecalculation. It was therefore certain that the master would at present doeverything to avoid irritating Prince Janusz, because that prince who wasmarried to Kiejstut's daughter was more difficult to reconcile thanZiemowit of Plock, whose wife, for some unknown reason, was entirelydevoted to the Order.
In the face of these thoughts, old Zygfried, who was ready to commit allkinds of crimes, treachery and cruelty, only for the sake of the Orderand its fame, began to calculate conscientiously:
"Would it not be better to let Jurand and his daughter go? The crime andinfamy weigh heavily on Danveld's name, and he is dead; even if themaster should punish Rotgier and myself severely because we were theaccomplices in Danveld's deeds, would it not be better for the Order?"But here his revengeful and cruel heart began to rebel at the thought ofJurand.
To let him go, this oppressor and executioner of members of the Order,this conqueror in so many encounters, the cause of so many infamies,calamities and defeats, then the murderer of Danveld, the conqueror ofvon Bergow, the murderer of Meineger, Godfried and Hugue, he who even inSzczytno itself shed more German blood than one good fight in war. "No, Icannot! I cannot!" Zygfried repeated vehemently, and at this thought hisrapacious fingers closed spasmodically, and the old lean breast heavedheavily. Still, if it were for the great benefit and glory of the Order?If the punishment should fall in that case upon the still livingperpetrators of the crimes, Prince Janusz ought to be by this timereconciled with the foe and remove the difficulty by an arrangement, oreven an alliance. "They are furious," further thought the old count; "buthe ought to show them some kindness, it is easy to forget a grievance.Why, the prince himself in his own country was an abductor; then there isfear of revenge...."
Then he began to pace in the hall in mental distraction, and then stoppedin front of the Crucifix, opposite the entrance, which occupied almostthe whole height of wall between the two windows, and kneeling at itsfeet he said: "Enlighten me, O Lord, teach me, for I know not! If I giveup Jurand and his daughter then all our actions will be truly revealed,and the world will not say Danveld or Zygfried have done it but they willlay the blame upon the Knights of the Cross, and disgrace will fall uponthe whole Order, and the hatred of that prince will be greater than ever.If I do not give them up but keep them or suppress the matter, then theOrder will be suspected and I shall be obliged to pollute my mouth withlying before the grand master. Which is better, Lord? Teach and enlightenme. If I must endure vengeance, then ordain it according to Thy justice;but teach me now, enlighten me, for Thy religion is concerned, andwhatever Thou commandest I will do, even if it should result in myimprisonment and even if I were awaiting death and deliverance infetters."
And resting his brow upon the wooden cross he prayed for a long time; itdid not even for a moment cross his mind that it was a crooked andblasphemous prayer. Then he got up, calmed, thinking that the grace ofthe wooden cross sent him a righteous and enlightened thought, and that avoice from on high said to him: "Arise and wait for the return ofRotgier." "So! I must wait. Rotgier will undoubtedly kill the young man;it will then be necessary to hide Jurand and his daughter, or give themup. In the first instance, it is true, the prince will not forget them,but not being sure who abducted the girl he will search for her, he willsend letters to the grand master, not accusing him but inquiring, and theaffair will be greatly prolonged. In the second instance, the joy at thereturn of Jurand's daughter will be greater than the desire to avenge herabduction. Surely we can always say that we have found her after Jurand'soutrage." The last thought entirely calmed Zygfried. As to Jurand himselfthere was no fear; for he and Rotgier had long before come to anunderstanding that in case Jurand were to be set free, he could neitheravenge himself nor harm them. Zygfried was glad in his terrible heart. Herejoiced also at the thought of God's judgment which was to take place inthe castle at Ciechanow. And as to the result of the mortal combat he wasnot in the least alarmed. He recollected a certain tournament inKoenigsberg when Rotgier overcame two powerful knights, who passed intheir Andecave country as unconquerable fighters. He also remembered thecombat near Wilno, with a certain Polish knight, the courtier Sp
ytko ofMelsztyn, whom Rotgier killed. And his face brightened, and his heartexulted, for when Rotgier to a certain extent was already a celebratedknight, he first had led an expedition to Lithuania and had taught himthe best way to carry on a war with that tribe; for this reason he lovedhim like a son, with such deep love, that only those who must have strongaffections locked up in their hearts are able to do. Now that "littleson" will once more shed hated Polish blood, and return covered withglory. Well, it is God's judgment, and the Order will at the same time becleared of suspicion. "God's judgment...." In the twinkling of an eye, afeeling akin to alarm oppressed his old heart. Behold, Rotgier mustengage in mortal combat in defence of the innocence of the Order of theKnights of the Cross. Yet, they are guilty; he will therefore fight forthat falsehood.... What then if misfortune happen? But in a moment itoccurred to him again that this was impossible. Yes! Rotgier justlywrites: "That by the help of Christ who cares more for those who bear thecross than for a certain Jurand or the wrong done to one Mazovian girl."Yes, Rotgier will return in three days, and return a conqueror.
Thus the old Knight of the Cross calmed himself, but at the same time hewondered whether it would not be advisable to send Danusia to some out ofthe way, distant castle, from which in no possible manner the stratagemsof the Mazovians could rescue her. But after hesitating for a moment hegave up that idea. To take overt action and accuse the Order, onlyJurandowna's husband could do that. But he will perish by Rotgier's hand.After that, there will only be investigations, inquiries, correspondence,and accusations from the prince. But this very procedure will greatlyretard the affair, and it will be confused and obscured, and it goeswithout saying, it will be infinitely delayed. "Before it comes toanything," said Zygfried to himself, "I shall die, and it may also bethat Jurandowna will grow old in the prison of the Knights of the Cross.Nevertheless, I shall order that everything in the castle be prepared fordefence, and at the same time to make ready for the road, because I donot exactly know what will be the result of the meeting with Rotgier:Therefore I shall wait."
Meanwhile two of the three days, in which Rotgier had promised to return,passed by; then three and four, yet no retinue made its appearance at thegates of Szczytno. Only on the fifth day, well-nigh toward dark, theblast of the horn resounded in front of the bastion at the gate of thefortress. Zygfried, who was just finishing his vesper prayer, immediatelydispatched a page to see who had arrived.
After a while the page returned with a troubled face. This Zygfried didnot observe on account of the darkness, for the fire in the stove was toofar back to illuminate the room sufficiently.
"Have they returned?" inquired the old Knight of the Cross.
"Yes!" replied the page.
But there was something in his voice which alarmed the old knight, and hesaid:
"And Brother Rotgier?"
"They have brought Brother Rotgier."
Then Zygfried got up and for a long while he held on to the arm of thechair to prevent himself from falling, then in a stifled voice he said:
"Give me the cloak."
The page placed the cloak on his shoulders. He had apparently regainedhis strength, for he put on the cowl himself without assistance, then hewent out.
In a moment he found himself in the courtyard of the castle, where it wasalready quite dark; he walked slowly upon the cracking snow toward theretinue which was coming through the gate. He stopped near it where acrowd had already gathered, and several torches, which the soldiers ofthe guard brought, illuminated the scene. At the sight of the old knightthe servants opened a way for him. By the light of the torches could beseen the terrified faces, and the whispering of the people could be heardin the dark background:
"Brother Rotgier...."
"Brother Rotgier has been killed...."
Zygfried drew near the sleigh, upon which the corpse was stretched onstraw and covered with a cloak; he lifted one end of it.
"Bring a light," he said, whilst drawing aside the cowl.
One of the servants brought a torch which he held toward the corpse andby its light the old knight observed the head of Rotgier; the face waswhite as if frozen and bandaged with a black kerchief fastened under thebeard, evidently for the purpose of keeping the mouth closed. The wholeface was drawn and so much altered that it might be mistaken for somebodyelse's. The eyes were closed, and around them and near the temples wereblue patches, and the cheeks were scaly with frost. The old knight gazedat it for a long while amid complete silence. Others looked at him, forit was known that he was like a father to Rotgier, and that he loved him.But he did not shed even a single tear, only his face looked more severethan usual, but there was depicted in it a kind of torpid calm.
"They sent him back thus!" he said at last.
But he immediately turned toward the steward of the castle and said:
"Let a coffin be prepared by midnight, and place the body in the chapel."
"There is one coffin left of those which were made for those Jurandkilled; it wants only to be covered with cloth, which I shall order to bedone."
"And cover him with a cloak," said Zygfried, whilst covering the face ofRotgier, "not with one like this but with one of the Order."
After a while he added:
"Do not close the lid."
The people approached the sleigh. Zygfried again pulled the cowl over hishead, but he recollected something before leaving, and he asked:
"Where is van Krist?"
"He also was killed," replied one of the servants, "but they were obligedto bury him in Ciechanow because putrefaction set in."
"Very well."
Then he left, walking slowly, entered the room and sat down upon the samechair where he was when the tidings reached him; his face was as ifpetrified and motionless and he sat there so long that the page began tobe alarmed; he put his head halfway in the door now and then. Hour afterhour passed by. The customary stir ceased within the castle, but from thedirection of the chapel came a dull indistinct hammering; then nothingdisturbed the silence but the calls of the watchmen.
It was already about midnight when the old knight awoke as from sleep,and called the servant.
"Where is Brother Rotgier?" he asked.
But the servant, unnerved by the silence, events and sleeplessness,apparently did not understand him, but looked at him with fear andreplied in a trembling voice:
"I do not know, sir...."
The old man burst out into laughter and said mildly:
"Child, I asked whether he is already in the chapel."
"Yes, sir."
"Very well then. Tell Diedrich to come here with a lantern and wait untilmy return; let him also have a small kettle of coals. Is there already alight in the chapel?"
"There are candles burning about the coffin."
Zygfried put on his cloak and left.
When he entered the chapel, he looked around to see whether anybody elsewas present; then he closed the door carefully, approached the coffin,put aside two of the six candles burning in large brazen candlesticks infront of him, and knelt down before it.
As his lips did not move, it showed that he was not praying. For sometime he only looked at the drawn yet still handsome face of Rotgier asthough he were trying to discover in it traces of life.
Then amid the dead silence in the chapel he began to call in suppressedtones:
"Dear little son! Dear little son!"
Then he remained silent; it seemed as though he were expecting an answer.
Then he stretched out his hand and pushed his emaciated talon-likefingers under the cloak, uncovered Rotgier's breast and began to feelabout it, looking everywhere at the middle and sides below the ribs andalong the shoulder-blades: at last he touched the rent in the clothingwhich extended from the top of the right shoulder down to the armpit, hisfingers penetrated and felt along the whole length of the wound, then hecried with a loud voice which sounded like a complaint:
"Oh!... What merciless thing is this!... Yet thou saidst that fellow wasquite
a child!... The whole arm! The whole arm? So many times thou hastraised it against the Pagans in defence of the Order.... In the name ofthe Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Thou foughtest falsely, and sosuccumbed in a false cause; be absolved and may thy soul...."
The words were cut short on his lips which began to tremble, and deepsilence reigned once more in the chapel.
"Dear little son! Dear little son!"
Now there was something like a petition in Zygfried's voice, and at thesame time it seemed as he lowered his voice as though his petitioncontained some important and terrible secret.
"Merciful Christ!... If thou art not condemned, give a sign, move thyhand, or give one twitch of the eye, for my old heart is groaning withinmy breast.... Give a sign, I loved thee, say one word!..."
And supporting himself with his hands upon the edge of the coffin, hefastened his vulture-like eyes upon the closed eyelids of Rotgier andwaited.
"Bah! How couldst thou speak?" said he, at last, "when frost and evilodor emanate from thee. But as thou art silent, then I will tell theesomething, and let thy soul, flying about here among the flaming candles,listen!"
Then he bent down to the face of the corpse.
"Dost thou remember how the chaplain would not permit us to kill Jurandand how we took an oath. Well, I will keep that oath, but I will causethee to rejoice wherever thou art, even at the cost of my own damnation."
Then he retreated from the coffin, replaced the candlesticks, covered thecorpse with the cloak, and left the chapel.
At the door of the room, overpowered with deep sleep, slept the servant,and according to Zygfried's orders Diedrich was already waiting inside.He was of low stature thickly set, with bowed legs and a square facewhich was concealed by a dark cowl falling to his arm. He was dressed inan untanned buffalo jacket, also a buffalo belt upon his hips from whichwas hanging a bunch of keys and a short knife. In his right hand he helda membrane-covered lantern; in the other, a small kettle and a torch.
"Are you ready?" inquired Zygfried.
Diedrich bowed silently.
"I gave orders for you to bring with you a kettle with coal in it."
The short fellow was still silent; he only pointed to the burning wood inthe fireplace and took the iron shovel standing at the fireside, andfilled the kettle with the burning coal, then he lit the lantern andwaited.
"Now listen, dog," said Zygfried; "you have never revealed what CountDanveld commanded you to do; the count also ordered the cutting out ofyour tongue. But you can still motion to the chaplain with your fingers.I therefore forewarn you, if you show him even with the slightest motionof your hand what you are to do now by my command, I shall order you tobe hanged."
Diedrich again bowed in silence, but his face was drawn on account of theterrible, ominous recollection; for his tongue was torn out for quiteanother reason than what Zygfried said.
"Now proceed, and lead to the underground cell where Jurand is."
The executioner grasped the handle of the kettle with his gigantic hand,picked up the lantern and then left. At the door they passed by the guardwho was asleep, descended the stairs, and turned, not toward theprincipal entrance, but directed their steps to the small corridor in therear of the stairs, extending through the whole width of the edifice, andterminating in a heavy iron door which was concealed in a niche in thewall. Diedrich opened it and they found themselves again in the open airin a small courtyard surrounded on its four sides by high walledgranaries where they kept their stores in case the castle should bebesieged. Underneath one of these stores, on the right, was anunderground prison. There was not a single guard standing there, becauseeven if a prisoner should succeed in breaking through from theunderground prison, he would then find himself in the courtyard whichonly gave exit through the door in the niche.
"Wait," said Zygfried, and leaning against the wall, he rested, for hefelt that something was the matter with him; he was short of breath, asthough his breast was too much tightened under the straight coat of mail.In plain terms, considering what had happened, he felt his old age, andhis brow under the cowl was covered with drops of perspiration; hetherefore stopped for a moment to recover breath.
The night following the gloomy day became extraordinarily clear and thelittle courtyard was brightly illuminated by the rays of the moon whichcaused the snow to glisten with a yellowish tint. Zygfried inhaled withpleasure the cool invigorating air, but he forgot that on a similarbright night Rotgier left for Ciechanow whence he did not return alive.
"And now thou liest in the chapel," he murmured to himself.
Diedrich thought that the count was talking to him; he therefore liftedup his lantern and threw its light upon his face which had a terrible andcadaverous appearance, but at the same time it looked like the head of anold vulture.
"Lead on," said Zygfried.
Diedrich lowered the lantern again which cast upon the snow a yellowcircle of light and they proceeded. In the thick wall of the storehousethere was a recess in which several steps led to a large iron door.Diedrich opened it and went down the stairs in the deep dark aperture,raising the lantern so as to show the way to the count. At the end of thestairs there was a corridor in which, to the right and left, wereexceedingly low doors leading to the cells of the prisoners.
"To Jurand!" said Zygfried.
And in a moment the bars creaked and they entered, but there was perfectdarkness in the cell. But Zygfried, who could not see well in the dimlight from the lantern, ordered the torch to be lighted, and in a momenthe was enabled by its bright light to see Jurand lying on the straw. Theprisoner's feet were fettered, but the chains on the hands were somewhatlonger so as to enable him to carry food to his mouth. Upon his body wasthe same coarse sackcloth which he had on when he was arraigned beforethe court, but now it was covered with dark blood-stains, because, thatday when the fight ended, only when maddened with pain the frantic knightwas entangled in the net, the soldiers then tried to kill him, struck himwith their halberds and inflicted upon him numerous wounds. The chaplaininterfered and Jurand was not killed outright, but he lost so much bloodthat he was carried to prison half dead. In the castle they expected hisdeath hourly. But owing to his immense strength he prevailed over death,although they did not attend to his wounds, and he was cast into theterrible subterranean prison, in which during the daytime when it thaweddrops fell from the roof, but when there was frost the walls were thicklycovered with snow and icicles.
On the ground on the straw lay the powerless man in chains, but he lookedlike a piece of flint shaped in human form. Zygfried commanded Diedrichto throw the light directly upon Jurand's face, then he gazed at it for awhile in silence. Then he turned to Diedrich and said:
"Observe, he has only one eye--destroy it."
There was something in his voice like sickness and decrepitude, and forthat very reason, the horrible order sounded more terrible, so that thetorch began somewhat to tremble in the hand of the executioner. Yet heinclined it toward Jurand's face, and in a moment big drops of burningtar began to fall upon the eye of Jurand, covering it entirely from thebrow down to the projecting cheek bone.
Jurand's face twitched, his grey mustachios moved, but he did not utter asingle word of complaint. Whether it was from exhaustion, or the grandfortitude of his terrible nature, he did not even groan.
Zygfried said:
"It has been promised that you shall be freed, and you shall be, but youshall not be able to accuse the Order, for your tongue, which you mightuse against it, shall be torn out."
Then he again signaled to the executioner who replied with a strangeguttural sound and showed by signs that for this he roust employ bothhands, and therefore wanted the count to hold the light.
Then the old count took the torch and held it in his outstretched,trembling hand, but when Diedrich pressed Jurand's chest with his kneesZygfried turned his head and looked at the hoarfrost covered wall.
For a while resounded the clank of the chains, followed by the suppressedpanti
ng of a human breast which sounded like one dull, deep groan--andthen all was still.
Finally Zygfried said:
"Jurand, the punishment which you have suffered you have deserved; but Ihave promised to Brother Rotgier, whom your son-in-law has killed, toplace your right hand in his coffin."
Diedrich, who had just got up from his last deed, bent again upon theprostrate form of Jurand, when he heard Zygfried's words.
After a little while, the old count and Diedrich found themselves againin that open courtyard which was illuminated by the bright moon. Whenthey reentered the corridor, Zygfried took the lantern from Diedrich,also a dark object wrapped up in a rag, and said to himself in a loudvoice,
"Now to the chapel and then to the tower."
Diedrich looked keenly at the count, but the count commanded him to go tosleep; he covered himself, hanging the lantern near the lighted window ofthe chapel and left. On his way he meditated upon what had just takenplace. He was almost sure that his own end had also arrived and thatthese were his last deeds in this world, and that he would have toaccount for them before God. But his soul, the soul of a "Knight of theCross," although naturally more cruel than mendacious, had in the courseof inexorable necessity got accustomed to fraud, assassination andconcealing the sanguinary deeds of the Order, he now involuntarily soughtto cast off the ignominy and responsibility for Jurand's tortures, fromboth himself and the Order. Diedrich was dumb and could not confess, and,although he could make himself understood with the chaplain, he would beafraid to do so. What then? Nobody would know. Jurand might well havereceived all his wounds during the fight. He might have easily lost histongue by the thrust of a lance between his teeth. An axe or a swordmight have easily cut off his right hand. He had only one eye; would itbe strange therefore that the other eye was lost in the fracas, for hethrew himself madly upon the whole garrison of Szczytno. Alas! Jurand!His last joy in life trembled for a moment in the heart of the old Knightof the Cross. So, should Jurand survive, he ought to be set free. Atthis, Zygfried remembered a conversation he had had once with Rotgierabout this, when that young brother laughingly remarked: "Then let him gowhere _his eyes will carry him_, and if he does not happen to strikeSpychow, then let him _make inquiries_ on the road." For that which hadnow happened was a part of the prearranged programme between them. Butnow Zygfried reentered the chapel and, kneeling in front of the coffin,he laid at Rotgier's feet Jurand's bleeding hand; that last joy whichstartled him was only for a moment and quickly disappeared, for the lasttime, from his face.
"You see," he said, "I have done more than we agreed to do. For King Johnof Luxemburg, although he was blind, kept on fighting and perishedgloriously. But Jurand can stand no more and will perish like a dogbehind the fence."
At this he again felt that shortness of breath that had seized him on hisway to Jurand, also a weight on his head as of a heavy iron helmet, butthis only lasted a second. Then he drew a deep breath and said:
"Ah! My time has also come. You were the only one I had; but now I havenone. But if I lived longer, I vow to you, O little son, that I wouldalso place upon your grave that hand which killed you, or perish myself.The murderer who killed you is still alive...."
Here his teeth clinched and such an intense cramp seized him that hecould not speak for some time. Then he began again, but in a brokenvoice:
"Yes, your murderer still lives, but I will cut him to pieces ... andothers with him, and I will inflict upon them tortures even worse thandeath itself...."
Then he ceased.
In a moment he rose again and approaching the coffin, he began to speakin quiet tones,
"Now I take leave of you ... and look into your face for the last time;perhaps I shall be able to see in your face whether you are pleased withmy promises.... The last time."
Then he uncovered Rotgier's face, but suddenly he retreated.
"You are smiling, ..." he said, "but you are smiling terribly...."
In fact, the frozen corpse, which was covered with the mantle, hadthawed. It may be from the heat of the burning candles, it had begun todecompose with extraordinary rapidity, and the face of the young countlooked indeed terrible. The enormously swollen, and livid mouth lookedsomething monstrous, the blue and swollen curled lips had the appearanceof a grinning smile.
Zygfried covered that terrible human mask as quickly as possible.
Then he took the lantern and left the chapel. Here again, for the thirdtime, he felt shortness of breath; he entered the house and threw himselfupon his hard bed of the Order and lay for a time motionless. He thoughthe would fall asleep, when suddenly a strange feeling overpowered him; itseemed to him that he would never again be able to sleep, and that if heremained in that house death would soon follow.
Zygfried, in his extreme weariness, and without hope of sleep, was notafraid of death; on the contrary he regarded it as an exceedingly greatrelief. But he had no wish to submit himself to it that evening. So hesat up in his bed and cried:
"Give me time till to-morrow."
Then he distinctly heard a voice whispering in his ear:
"Leave this house. It will be too late to-morrow and you will not be ableto accomplish your promise. Leave this house!"
The count got up with difficulty and went out. The guards were calling toone another from the bastions upon the palisades. The light emanatingfrom the windows of the chapel illuminated the snow in front with ayellow gleam. In the middle of the court near the stone wall were twoblack dogs playing and tugging at a black rag. Beyond this the courtyardwas empty and silent.
"It is yet necessary this night!" said Zygfried. "I am exceedingly tired,but I must go.... All are asleep. Jurand, overcome by torture, might alsobe asleep. I only am unable to sleep. I will go. I will go, for there isdeath within, and I have promised you.... Let death come afterward; sleepwill not come. You are smiling there, but my strength is failing me. Youare smiling, you are apparently glad. But you see that my fingers arebenumbed, my hands have lost their strength, and I cannot accomplish itby myself ... the servant with whom she sleeps will accomplish it...."
Then he moved on with heavy steps toward the tower situated near thegate. Meanwhile the dogs which were playing near the stone wall camerunning up and began to fawn upon him. In one of them Zygfried recognizedthe bulldog which was so much attached to Diedrich that it was said inthe castle that it served him as a pillow at night.
The dog greeted the count, it barked low once or twice; and then returnedtoward the gate acting as though it had divined his thoughts.
After a while Zygfried found himself in front of the narrow little doorsof the tower, which at night were barred on the outside. Removing thebars, he felt for the balustrade of the stairs which commenced quite nearthe doors and began to ascend. In his absentmindedness he forgot thelantern; he therefore went up gropingly, stepping carefully and feelingwith his feet for the steps.
Having advanced a few steps, he suddenly halted, when below quite nearhim he heard something like the breathing of a man, or beast.
"Who is there?"
But there was no answer, only the breathing grew quicker.
Zygfried was not a timid man; he was not afraid of death. But thepreceding terrible night had quite exhausted his courage andself-control. It crossed his mind that Rotgier or the evil spirit wasbarring his way, and his hair stood up on his head and his brow wascovered with cold sweat.
He retreated to the very entrance.
"Who is there?" he asked, with a choked voice.
But at that moment something struck him a powerful blow on his chest, soterrible that the old man fell through the door upon his back andswooned. He did not even groan.
Silence followed, after which there could be seen a dark form, stealthilyissuing from the tower and making off toward the stable which wassituated on the left side of the courtyard near the arsenal. Diedrich'sbig bulldog followed that figure silently. The other dog also ran afterhim and disappeared in the shadow of the wall, but shortly appeared againwit
h its head to the ground, scenting as it were the trail of the otherdog. In this manner the dog approached the prostrate and lifeless body ofZygfried, which it smelled carefully, then crouched near the head of theprostrate man and began to howl.
The howling continued for a long while, filling the air of that sombrenight with a new kind of dolefulness and horror. Finally the small doorconcealed in the middle of the gate creaked and a guard armed with ahalberd appeared in the courtyard.
"Death upon that dog," he said, "I'll teach you to howl during thenight."
And he aimed the sharp end of the halberd so as to hit the animal withit, but at that moment he observed something lying near the little opendoor of the bastion.
"Lord Jesus! what is that?..."
He bent his head so as to look in the face of the prostrate man, andbegan to shout:
"Help! Help! Help!"
Then he rushed to the gate and pulled with all his strength at thebell-rope.
END OF PART FIFTH.
PART SIXTH.
The Knights of the Cross, or, Krzyzacy: Historical Romance Page 39
