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Danusia laughed so much, that the princess fearing that the young girl would choke, was obliged to ask him to stop the amusement; but perceiving how merry the girl was, she asked her: "Well, Danusia, is it good to have your own knight?" "Oj! Very!" answered the girl. And then she touched Zbyszko's white silk "jaka" with her pink finger, and asked: "And will he be mine to-morrow?"
Macko placed his hand quietly upon Zbyszko's arm, which he pressed with his whole strength, so as to bring him back to his senses; whilst he himself, turning toward Arnold, said: "That woman is the daughter of Jurand of Spychow, and wife of this young knight. Do you understand now, why we followed you up, and why we have captured you?" "For God's sake!" said Arnold. "Whence?
His sad thoughts were interrupted by Jagienka who said: "They are soon cured after Zbyszko's beating; but even if they come here every day, it will not benefit them!" Macko looked and saw that the girl's face was red with anger, and that her blue eyes sparkled with indignation, although she knew very well that Cztan and Wilk had taken her part in the inn, and had been beaten on her account.
He did not know anything correctly himself; then he thought that if he kept the knight anxious and perplexed, he would have more influence over him. He wanted to retain his power over this knight who had a goodly retinue, and was well provided with everything. Zbyszko's youth led him to suppose that he would be a generous lord, without forethought and careless of money.
The face of the abbot became still more serene; he struck Zbyszko's shoulder with his hand so hard that the blow resounded in the chamber, and asked: "Why did you not let Cztan or Wilk approach Jagienka at church?" "Because I did not want them to think that I was afraid of them, and I did not want you to think so." "But you gave the holy water to her." "Yes, I did."
It now occurred to Zbyszko's mind, that this might have been some one sent for the purpose of warning the people in case Jurand should happen to be at the court in person. In that case they would not claim to have come from Spychow, but could have prepared another missive to give to the princess instead of Jurand's fictitious letter.
Therefore now, after Zbyszko's lucky deliverance, they were discussing this matter at the house of the merchant, Amylej. They had money enough to redeem the land they possessed quite a fortune gathered from the booty, from the ransoms paid by the knights captured by them, and from Witold's presents. They had received great benefit from that fight with the two Fryzjan knights.
The men, upon hearing the account of her wrongs, gnashed their teeth, and not a few put on the steel cuirass, grasped the sword, axe, or lance and went along with Zbyszko, in order to take revenge with interest. Because, the valiant race considered even retribution, wrong for wrong, insufficient. But revenge did not then occupy Zbyszko's mind; his only thought was for Danusia.
The others, however, praised Zbyszko's strength, and as in those times might was appreciated more than any other quality, the young girls cried to Danusia: "Be glad!" She was glad although she could not then understand what benefit she would receive from that piece of compressed wood.
Then, seeing Zbyszko's youthful face, be added softly: "And the hairs of your beard, also." He rode beside the Czech. For a time they could not talk, because a strong wind was blowing, and roaring in the forest; but when it decreased, Zbyszko heard the following conversation behind him. "I don't deny that you were in Rome; but you look like a beer drunkard," said the Czech.
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