The Knights of the Cross by Henryk Sienkiewicz

Author:Henryk Sienkiewicz [Sienkiewicz, Henryk]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781519727497
Amazon: 1519727496
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER III.

Father Wyszoniek feared that even at Jurand’s next awakening, he might be stupefied and might not recover consciousness for a long time. Meanwhile he promised the princess and Zbyszko to let them know when the old knight could speak, and himself retired after they left. In fact Jurand first awoke on the second Holy Day just before noon, but fully conscious. The princess and Zbyszko were present. Therefore, sitting on the bed, he looked at and recognized her and said:

“Your Highness … for God’s sake, am I in Ciechanow?”

“And you overslept the Holy Day,” replied the lady.

“The snows covered me. Who saved me?”

“This knight: Zbyszko of Bogdaniec. You remember him in Krakow….”

And Jurand gazed with his sound eye at the youth for a moment and said:

“I remember … but where is Danusia?”

“She did not ride with you?” anxiously inquired the princess.

“How could she ride with me, when I did not go to her?”

Zbyszko and the princess looked at each other, believing him to be still speaking under the influence of the fever. Then the lady said: “Wake up, for God’s sake! There was no girl with, you?”

“Girl? With me?” inquired Jurand in amazement.

“Because your people perished, but she could not be found among them.”

“Why did you leave her in Spychow?”

He then again repeated, but now with alarm in his voice:

“In Spychow? Why, she is with you, Your Highness, not with me!”

“However you sent a letter for her to the Forest Court.”

“In the name of the Father and Son!” replied Jurand. “I did not send for her at all.”

Then the princess suddenly became pale:

“What is that?” she said, “are you positive that you are speaking in your right senses?”

“For God’s mercy, where is the child?” exclaimed Jurand, starting up.

Father Wyszoniek, on hearing this, quickly left the room, while the princess continued:

“Listen: There arrived an armed retinue and a letter from you to the Forest Court, for Danusia. The letter stated that you were knocked down in a conflagration by a falling beam … that you were half blinded and that you wished to see the child…. They took Danusia and rode away….”

“My head swims!” exclaimed Jurand. “As there is a God in Heaven, there was no fire in Spychow, nor did I send for her!”

At that moment Father Wyszoniek returned with the letter, which he handed to Jurand and inquired: “Is not this your clerkly writing?”

“I do not know.”

“And the seal?”

“It is mine.”

“What does the letter say?”

Father Wyszoniek read the letter while Jurand listened, tearing his hair and finally saying: “The writing is counterfeited! … the seal is false!… my soul! They have captured my child and will destroy her!”

“Who are they?”

“The Teutons!”

“For God’s sake! The prince must be informed! He shall send messengers to the master!” exclaimed the princess. “Merciful Jesus, save her and help!” … and she left the room screaming.

Jurand jumped out of bed and began hurriedly to clothe his gigantic frame. Zbyszko sat as if petrified, but in a few moments his tightly set teeth began to gnash with rage.

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