The Deluge. Vol. 2

Sakovich sprang out of the chamber as if possessed.

CHAPTER XLIV

Sakovich did not leave Boguslav's bedside for two days, the second paroxysm being worse than the first. The prince's jaws closed so firmly that attendants had to open them with a knife to pour medicine into his mouth. He regained consciousness immediately after; but he trembled, quivered, floundered in the bed, and stretched himself like a wild beast mortally wounded. When that had passed, a wonderful weakness came; he gazed all night at the ceiling without saying a word. Next day, after he had taken drugs, he fell into a sound sleep, and about midday woke covered with abundant perspiration.

"How does your highness feel?" asked Sakovich.

"I am better. Have any letters come?"

"Letters from the elector and Steinbock are lying on the table; but the reading must be put off till later, for you have not strength enough yet."

"Give them at once! – do you hear?"

Sakovich brought the letters, and Boguslav read them twice; then he thought awhile and said, —

"We will move for Podlyasye to-morrow."

"You will be in bed to-morrow, as you are to-day."

"I will be on horseback as well as you. Be silent, no interference!"

The starosta ceased, and for a while silence continued, broken only by the tick-tick of the Dantzig clock.

"The advice was stupid, the idea was stupid, and I too was stupid to listen."

"I knew that if it did not succeed the blame would fall on me," answered Sakovich.

"For you blundered."

"The counsel was clever; but if there is some devil at their service who gives warning of everything, I am not to blame."

The prince rose in the bed. "Do you think that they employ a devil?" asked he, looking quickly at Sakovich.

"But does not your highness know the Papists?"

"I know, I know! And it has often come into my head that there might be enchantment. Since yesterday I am certain. You have struck my idea; therefore I asked if you really think so. But which of them could enter into company with unclean power? Not she, for she is too virtuous; not the sword-bearer, for he is too stupid."

"But suppose the aunt?"

"That may be."

"To make certain I bound her yesterday, and put a dagger to her throat; and imagine, – I look to-day, the dagger is as if melted in fire."

"Show it."

"I threw it into the river, though there was a good turquoise in the hilt. I preferred not to touch it again."

"Then I'll tell you what happened to me yesterday. I ran into her room as if mad. What I said I do not remember; but I know this, – that she cried, 'I'll throw myself into the fire first.' You know what an enormous chimney there is there; she sprang right into it, I after her. I dragged her out on the floor. Her clothes were already on fire. I had to quench the fire and hold her at the same time. Meanwhile dizziness seized me, my jaws became fixed, – you would have said that some one had torn the veins in my neck; then it seemed to me that the sparks flying near us were turned into bees, were buzzing like bees. And this is as true as that you see me here."

"And what came later?"

"I remember nothing, but such terror as if I were flying into an immense well, into some depth without bottom. What terror! I tell you what terror! Even now the hair is standing on my head. And not terror alone, but – how can I explain it? – an emptiness, a measureless weariness and torment beyond understanding. Luckily the powers of heaven were with me, or I should not be speaking with you this day."

"Your highness had a paroxysm. Sickness itself often brings visions before the eye; but for safety's sake we may have a hole cut in the river ice, and let the old maid float down."

"Oh, devil take her! We will march to-morrow in any event, and afterward spring will come; there will soon be other stars, and the nights will be short, weakening every unclean power."

"If we must march to-morrow, then you would better let the girl go."

"Even if I wished not, I must. All desire has fallen away from me."

"Never mind them; let them go to the devil!"

"Impossible!"

"Why?"

"The old man has confessed that he has a tremendous lot of money buried in Billeviche. If I let them alone, they will dig up the money and go to the forests. I prefer to keep them here, and take the money in requisition. There is war now, and this is permissible. Besides, he offered it himself. We shall give orders to dig up the whole garden, foot by foot; we must find the money. While Billevich is sitting here, at least, he will not make a noise and shout over all Lithuania that he is plundered. Rage seizes me when I think how much I have spent on those amusements and tournaments, – and all for nothing, for nothing!"

"Rage against that maiden seized me long ago. And I tell your highness that when she came yesterday and said to me, as to the last camp follower, 'Be off, serving-man! go up, for thy master is lying there!' I came near twisting her head like a starling; for I thought that she had stabbed you with a knife or shot you from a pistol."

"You know that I do not like to have any one manage in my house like a gray goose. It is well that you did not do as you say, for I should have given orders to nip you with those pincers which were heated for Plaska. Keep away from her!"

"I sent Plaska back. He was terribly astonished, not knowing why he was brought nor why he was sent home. He wanted something for his fatigue, 'because this,' said he, 'is loss in my trade;' but I told him, 'You bear home a sound skin as reward.' Do we really march to-morrow for Podlyasye?"

"As God is in heaven. Are the troops sent off according to my orders?"

"The cavalry has gone already to Kyedani, whence it is to march to Kovno and wait there. Our Polish squadrons are here yet; I did not like to send them in advance. The men seem reliable; still they might meet the confederates. Glovbich will go with us; also the Cossacks under Vrotynski. Karlström marches with the Swedes in the vanguard. He has orders to exterminate rebels, and especially peasants on the way."

"That is well."

"Kyritz with infantry is to march slowly, so that we may have some one to fall back upon in difficulty. If we are to advance like a thunderbolt, – and our entire calculation lies in swiftness, – I do not know whether the Prussian and Swedish cavalry will be useful. It is a pity that the Polish squadrons are not reliable; for between us, there is nothing superior to Polish cavalry."

"Has the artillery gone?"

"It has."

"And Patterson too?"

"No, Patterson is here; he is nursing Kettling, of whom he is very fond, and who wounded himself rather badly with his own sword. If I did not know Kettling to be a daring officer, I should think that he had cut himself of purpose to avoid the campaign."

"It will be needful to leave about a hundred men here, also in Rossyeni and in Kyedani. The Swedish garrisons are small, and De la Gardie, as it is, is asking men every day from Löwenhaupt. Besides, when we march out, the rebels, forgetting the defeat of Shavli, will raise their heads."

"They are growing strong as it is. I have heard again that the Swedes are cut down in Telshi."

"By nobles or peasants?"

"By peasants under the leadership of a priest; but there are parties of nobles, particularly near Lauda."