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"The ksiondz Wyszoniek says that he will know when the new moon comes. There are four days before the new moon." "Hej! then you need not go to Bogdaniec, because I will either die, or I will be well before my uncle could come." "Could you not send a letter to Bogdaniec? Sanderus will write one. Then they will know about you, and will engage a mass for you."
"For God's sake! That is true!" exclaimed the princess. Then there was silence; only their sorrowful faces showed what a blow those words of the ksiondz Wyszoniek were to all of them. Then he said after a while: "If you had a dispensation, then I would not oppose it, because I pity you.
Then the ksiondz Wyszoniek threw fresh logs on the charcoal and when something whined in the wood, as happens very often when the wood is fresh, he said: "Penitent soul, what do you wish?"
These words were so unexpected to the princess, that she jumped from the bench; then she sat down again and as if she had not thoroughly understood about what he was talking, she said: "For heaven's sake! the ksiondz Wyszoniek." "Gracious lady! Gracious lady!" begged Zbyszko. "Gracious lady!" repeated Danusia, embracing the princess' knees. "How could it be done without her father's permission?"
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...."
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.
But further conversation was interrupted by the ksiondz Wyszoniek, who entering the room, nodded to Danusia and said: "Praise God and come to Zbyszko! He has awakened and has asked for something to eat. He is much better." In fact it was so. Zbyszko was a great deal better, and the ksiondz Wyszoniek was almost sure that he would recover, when an unexpected accident upset all his expectations.
Many ladies spent the night in church, where also Zbyszko confessed to the priest Wyszoniek, They said one to another as they looked at his almost boyish face: "Why, he is a child yet! how can he expose his head to the German axe?" And they prayed the more fervently for aid for him.
The Czech was a little afraid and began to look into his face; Zbyszko having noticed this, said: "Do not be alarmed, people do not go to confession only when they expect to die; the holy days are coming, Father Wyszoniek and the princess are going to Ciechanow, and then there will be no priest nearer than in Przasnysz." "And are you not going?" asked the shield-bearer.
When they again separated them, he raised himself as much as he could, leaned his head on the window and looked out; consequently, through the flakes of the snow, as through a veil, he saw Danusia sitting in the sleigh, the princess holding her a long time in her arms, the ladies of the court kissing her and the ksiondz Wyszoniek making the sign of the cross for the journey.
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