The Deluge. Vol. 2

"Each one prevents every other."

"The girl will be left in the lurch," said Kmita, "though in truth there must be white seeds in that pear yet."

Shurski opened his eyes, and bending to Kmita's ear said very mysteriously, —

"They say that she is twenty-five, as I love God. She was with Princess Griselda before the incursion of the rabble?"

"Wonder of wonders, I should not give her more than sixteen or eighteen at the most."

This time the devil (the girl) guessed apparently that they were talking of her, for she covered her gleaming eyes with the lids, and only shot sidelong glances at Kmita, inquiring continually: "Who art thou, so handsome? Whence dost thou come?" And he began involuntarily to twirl his mustache.

After dinner Zamoyski, who from respect to the courtly manners of Kmita treated him as an unusual guest, took him by the arm. "Pan Babinich," said he, "you have told me that you are from Lithuania?"

"That is true, Pan Zamoyski."

"Tell me, did you know the Podbipientas?"

"As to knowing I know them not, for they are no longer in the world, at least those who had the arms Tear-Cowl. The last one fell at Zbaraj. He was the greatest knight that Lithuania had. Who of us does not know of Podbipienta?"

"I have heard also of him; but I ask for this reason: There is in attendance on my sister a lady of honorable family. She was the betrothed of this Podbipienta who was killed at Zbaraj. She is an orphan, without father or mother; and though my sister loves her greatly, still, being the natural guardian of my sister, I have in this way the maiden in guardianship."

"A pleasant guardianship!" put in Kmita.

Zamoyski smiled, winked, and smacked his tongue. "Sweetcakes! isn't she?"

But suddenly he saw that he was betraying himself, and assumed a serious air.

"Oh, you traitor!" said he, half jestingly, half seriously, "you want to hang me on a hook, and I almost let it out!"

"What?" asked Kmita, looking him quickly in the eyes.

Here Zamoyski saw clearly that in quickness of wit he was not the equal of his guest, and turned the conversation at once.

"That Podbipienta," said he, "bequeathed her some estates there in your region. I don't remember the names of them, for they are strange, – Baltupie, Syrutsiani, Myshykishki, – in a word, all that he had. Would I could remember them! Five or six estates."

"They are adjoining estates, not separate. Podbipienta was a very wealthy man, and if that lady should come to his fortune she might have her own ladies-in-waiting, and seek for a husband among senators."

"Do you tell me that? Do you know those places?"

"I know only Lyubovich and Sheputy, for they are near my land. The forest boundary alone is ten miles long, and the fields and meadows are as much more."

"Where are they?"

"In Vityebsk."

"Oh, far away! the affair is not worth the trouble, and the country is under the enemy."

"When we drive out the enemy we shall come to the property. But the Podbipientas have property in other places, – in Jmud very considerable, I know, for I have a piece of land there myself."

"I see that your substance is not a bag of chopped straw."

"It brings in nothing now. But I need nothing from others."

"Advise me how to put that maiden on her feet."

Kmita laughed.

"I prefer to talk over this matter rather than others. It would be better for her to go to Pan Sapyeha. If he would take the affair in hand, he could do a great deal as voevoda of Vityebsk and the most noted man in Lithuania. He could send notices to the tribunals that the will was made to Panna Borzobogati, so that Podbipienta's more distant relatives should not seize the property."

"That is true; but now there are no tribunals, and Sapyeha has something else in his head."

"The lady might be placed in his hands and under his guardianship. Having her before his eyes, he would give aid more speedily."

Kmita looked with astonishment at Zamoyski. "What object has he in wishing to remove her from this place?" thought he.

Zamoyski continued: "It would be difficult for her to live in camp, in the tent of the voevoda of Vityebsk; but she might stay with his daughters."

"I do not understand this," thought Kmita; "would he consent to be only her guardian?"

"But here is the difficulty: how can I send her to those parts in the present time of disturbance? Several hundred men would be needed, and I cannot strip Zamost. If I could only find some one to conduct her. Now, you might take her; you are going to Sapyeha. I would give you letters, and you would give me your word of honor to take her in safety."

"I conduct her to Sapyeha?" asked Kmita, in amazement.

"Is the office unpleasant? Even if it should come to love on the road – "

"Ah," said Kmita, "another one is managing my affections; and though the tenant pays nothing, still I do not think of making a change."

"So much the better; with all the greater satisfaction can I confide her to you."

A moment of silence followed.

"Well, will you undertake it?" asked the starosta,

"I am marching with Tartars."

"People tell me that the Tartars fear you worse than fire. Well, what? Will you undertake it?"

"H'm! why not, if thereby I can oblige your grace? But – "

"Ah, you think that the princess must give permission; she will, as God is dear to me! For she, – fancy to yourself, – she suspects me."

Here the starosta whispered in Kmita's ear; at last he said aloud, —

"She was very angry with me for that, and I put my ears aside; for to war with women, – behold you! I would rather have the Swedes outside Zamost. But she will have the best proof that I am planning no evil, when I wish to send the girl away. She will be terribly amazed, it is true; but at the first opportunity I'll talk with her touching this matter."

When he had said this, Zamoyski turned and went away. Kmita looked at him, and muttered, —

"You are setting some snare, Pan Sobiepan; and though I do not understand the object, I see the snare quickly, for you are a terribly awkward trapper."