“On a rope?”
“On that with which they will bind Radzivill.”
“Enough!”
“At the service of your highness!”
“It would be well to shoot some of the noisiest of those horsemen, and introduce order.”
“I commanded this morning to hang six of them. They are cold now, and are dancing stubbornly on the ropes, for the wind is fierce.”
“You have done well. But listen! Do you wish to remain in the garrison at Taurogi, for I must leave someone here?”
“I do, and I ask for that office. No one can manage better. The soldiers fear me more than others, for they know that with me there is no trifling. With respect to Löwenhaupt, it is necessary that someone be here more important than Patterson.”
“Can you manage the rebels?”
“I assure your highness that the pine-trees of Jmud will bear weightier fruit than the cones of last year. I will form about two regiments of infantry out of the peasants, and train them in my fashion. I will have my eyes on the estates; and if the rebels attack one of them, I will throw suspicion immediately on some rich noble and squeeze him like cheese in a bag. At first I shall need merely money to pay wages and equip the infantry.”
“I will leave what I can.”
“From the dowry money?”
“How is that?”
“That means from the Billevich money which you took out of the dowry for yourself in advance.”
“If you could only twist the neck of old Billevich in some polite way, it would be well; for it could be done easily, and he has my letter.”
“I will try. But the point is in this—has he not sent the note somewhere, or has the maiden not sewed it into her shift? Would you not like to discover?”
“It will come to that; but now I must go, and besides that cursed fever has taken all my strength.”
“Your highness, envy me for staying in Taurogi.”
“You have a strange kind of wish; but if you meanwhile—I should have you torn apart with hooks. Why do you insist on this office?”
“For I want to marry.”
“Whom?” asked the prince, sitting up in bed. “Panna Borzobogati.”
“That is a good idea, an excellent idea!” said Boguslav. “I have heard of some will.”
“There is a will from Pan Longin Podbipienta. Your highness knows what a powerful family that is, and the estates of Pan Longin are in a number of districts. It is true that the Moscow troops have occupied some; there will be lawsuits, fights, disputes, and attacks without number; but I will help myself, and will not yield one point to any man. Besides, the girl has pleased me greatly; she is pretty and enticing. I noticed in a moment when we captured her that she feigned terror, and shot at me with her eyes at the same time. Only let me stay here as commandant, and from idleness alone the lovemaking will begin.”
“One thing I tell you. I will not forbid you to marry; but listen well—no excesses, you understand? That maiden is from the Vishnyevetskis; she is a confidant of Princess Griselda herself; and because of my esteem for the princess, I do not wish to offend her, nor do I wish to offend Pan Zamoyski.”
“There is no need of warning,” answered Sakovich; “for since I wish to marry regularly, I must make regular approaches.”
“I wish you might get a refusal.”
“I know a man who got a refusal, though he is a prince; but I think that that will not come to me. That eye-cutting gives me great consolation.”
“Don’t tell that man who got a refusal not to give you horns! I will give an addition to your shield, or you will receive a surname, Sakovich Rogaty.39 She is Borzobogaty, and he is Bardzorogaty. You will be a chosen pair. But marry, yes, marry, and let me know of the wedding. I will be your best man.”
Fierce anger appeared on Sakovich’s face, terrible without that. His eyes were covered for a moment as if by smoke; but he soon recovered, and turning the prince’s words into a jest, he said—
“Poor man! you are not able to go downstairs alone, and you make threats. You have your Panna Billevich here; go your way, skeleton! go your way! You’ll nurse Babinich’s children yet!”
“God break your tongue, such a son! You are making sport of the sickness which came within a hair of killing me. I would you were enchanted as I was.”
“What enchantments are there here? At times, when I see how everything goes in the natural world, I think enchantment is stupid.”
“You are stupid yourself! Be silent! do not summon the Devil. You disgust me more and more.”
“Would that I were not the last Pole who has remained faithful to your highness! For my loyalty you feed me with ingratitude. I will return to my dens at home, and sit quietly awaiting the end of the war.”
“Oh, give us peace! You know that I love you.”
“It is grievous for me to see that. The Devil thrust this love for your highness on me. If there is enchantment in anything, it is in that.”
The starosta told the truth; for he loved Boguslav really. The prince knew this, and therefore paid him, if not with strong attachment, with gratitude, which vain people ever have for those who do them homage. Therefore Boguslav agreed willingly to Sakovich’s plans touching Anusia, and determined to aid him in person. In view of this, about midday, when he felt better, he had himself dressed and went to Anusia.
“I have come because of old acquaintance,” said he, “to inquire after your health and ask if the visit to Taurogi has pleased you.”
“In captivity one must be pleased with all things,” answered Anusia, sighing.
The prince laughed. “You are not in captivity. You were taken together with Sapyeha’s soldiers, that is true; and I gave orders to send you here, but only
