The Deluge. Vol. 2

"O Most Holy Mother, restrain my hand!" whispered he, through his set teeth. "O Most Holy Mother, save me! I am here an envoy; I came from the hetman, and I want to murder like a night assassin. I am a noble; I am a servant of Thine. Lead me not into temptation!"

"But why are you loitering?" asked Boguslav, in a voice broken by fever.

"I am here!"

"Do you hear the cocks crowing beyond the fences? It is needful to hurry, for I am sick and want rest."

Kmita put the baton behind his belt and rode farther, near the litter. Still he could not find peace. He understood that only with cool blood and self-command could he free Soroka; therefore he stipulated with himself in advance what words to use with the prince so as to incline and convince him. He vowed to have only Soroka in view, to mention nothing else, and especially not Olenka. And he felt how in the darkness a burning blush covered his face at the thought that perhaps the prince himself would mention her, and maybe mention something that Pan Andrei would not be able to endure or listen to.

"Let him not mention her," said he to himself; "let him not allude to her, for in that is his death and mine. Let him have mercy upon himself, if he lacks shame."

Pan Andrei suffered terribly; his breath failed him, and his throat was so straitened that he feared lest he might not be able to bring forth the words when he came to speak. In this stifling oppression he began the Litany.

After a time relief came; he was quieted considerably, and that grasp as it were of an iron hand squeezing his throat was relaxed.

They had now arrived at the prince's quarters. The soldiers put down the litter; two attendants took the prince by the armpits; he turned to Kmita, and with his teeth chattering continually, said, —

"I beg you to follow. The chill will soon pass; then we can speak."

After a while they found themselves in a separate apartment in which heaps of coals were glowing in a fireplace, and in which was unendurable heat. His servants placed Prince Boguslav on a long campaign arm-chair covered with furs, and brought a light. Then the attendants withdrew. The prince threw his head back, closed his eyes, and remained in that position motionless for a time; at last he said, —

"Directly, – let me rest."

Kmita looked at him. The prince had not changed much, but the fever had pinched his face. He was painted as usual, and his cheeks touched with color; but just for that reason, when he lay there with closed eyes and head thrown back, he was somewhat like a corpse or a wax figure. Pan Andrei stood before him in the bright light. The prince began to open his lids lazily; suddenly he opened them completely, and a flame, as it were, flew over his face. But it remained only an instant; then again he closed his eyes.

"If thou art a spirit, I fear thee not," said he; "but vanish."

"I have come with a letter from the hetman," answered Kmita.

Boguslav shuddered a little, as if he wished to shake off visions; then he looked at Kmita and asked, —

"Have I been deceived in you?"

"Not at all," answered Pan Andrei, pointing with his finger to the scar.

"That is the second!" muttered the prince to himself; and he added aloud, "Where is the letter?"

"Here it is," said Kmita, giving the letter.

Boguslav began to read, and when he had finished a marvellous light flashed in his eyes.

"It is well," said he; "there is loitering enough! Tomorrow the battle – and I am glad, for I shall not have a fever."

"And we, too, are glad," answered Kmita.

A moment of silence followed, during which these two inexorable enemies measured each other with a certain terrible curiosity. The prince first resumed the conversation.

"I divine that it was you who attacked me with the Tartars?"

"It was T."

"And did you not fear to come here?"

Kmita did not answer.

"Did you count on our relationship through the Kishkis? For you and I have our reckonings. I can tear you out of your skin, Sir Cavalier."

"You can, your highness."

"You came with a safe-conduct, it is true. I understand now why Pan Sapyeha asked for it. But you have attempted my life. Sakovich is detained there; but Sapyeha has no right to Sakovich, while I have a right to you, cousin."

"I have come with a prayer to your highness."

"I beg you to mention it. You can calculate that for you everything will be done. What is the prayer?"

"You have here a captive soldier, one of those men who aided me in carrying you off. I gave orders, he acted as a blind instrument. Be pleased to set that man at liberty."

Boguslav thought awhile.

"I am thinking," said he, "which is greater, – your daring as a soldier, or your insolence as a petitioner."

"I do not ask this man from you for nothing."

"And what will you give me for him?"

"Myself."

"Is it possible that he is such a precious soldier? You pay bountifully, but see that that is sufficient; for surely you would like to ransom something else from me."

Kmita came a step nearer to the prince, and grew so awfully pale that Boguslav, in spite of himself, looked at the door, and notwithstanding all his daring he changed the subject of conversation.

"Pan Sapyeha will not entertain such an agreement. I should be glad to hold you; but I have guaranteed with my word of a prince your safety."

"I will write by that soldier to the hetman that I remain of my own will."

"And he will declare that, in spite of your will, I must send you. You have given him services too great. He will not set Sakovich free, and Sakovich I prize higher than you."

"Then, your highness, free that soldier, and I will go on my word where you command."

"I may fall to-morrow; I care nothing for treaties touching the day after."

"I implore your highness for that man. I – "

"What will you do?"

"I will drop my revenge."

"You see, Pan Kmita, many a time have I gone against a bear with a spear, not because I had to do so, but from desire. I am glad when some danger threatens, for life is less dull for me. In this case I reserve your revenge as a pleasure; for you are, I must confess, of that breed of bears which seek the hunter themselves."