CHAPTER XX.
Though the Tartars, and especially those of the Dobrudja, knew how tostand breast to breast against armed men in the field, their mostcherished warfare was the slaughter of defenceless people, the seizingof women and peasants captive, and above all, plunder. The road wasvery bitter therefore to that chambul which Kmita led, for underhis iron hand these wild warriors had to become lambs, keep theirknives in the sheaths, and the quenched tinder and coiled ropes intheir saddle-bags. They murmured at first.
Near Tarnogrod a few remained behind of purpose to let free the "redbirds" in Hmyelevsk and to frolic with the women. But Kmita, who hadpushed on toward Tomashov, returned at sight of the first gleam offire, and commanded the guilty to hang the guilty. And he had gainedsuch control of Akbah Ulan, that the old Tartar not only did notresist, but he urged the condemned to hang quickly, or the "bogadyr"would be angry. Thenceforth "the lambs" marched quietly, crowding moreclosely together through the villages and towns, lest suspicion mightfall on them. And the execution, though Kmita carried it out soseverely, did not rouse even ill will or hatred against him; suchfortune had that fighter that his subordinates felt just as much lovefor him as they did fear.
It is true that Pan Andrei permitted no one to wrong them. The countryhad been terribly ravaged by the recent attack of Hmelnitski andSheremetyeff; therefore it was as difficult to find provisions andpasture as before harvest, and besides, everything had to be in timeand in plenty; in Krinitsi, where the townspeople offered resistanceand would not furnish supplies, Pan Andrei ordered that some of them bebeaten with sticks, and the under-starosta he stretched out with theblow of a whirlbat.
This delighted the horde immensely, and hearing with pleasure theuproar of the beaten people, they said among themselves,--
"Ei! our Babinich is a falcon; he lets no man offend his lambs."
It is enough that not only did they not grow thin, but the men andhorses improved in condition. Old Ulan, whose stomach had expanded,looked with growing wonder on the young hero and clicked with histongue.
"If Allah were to give me a son, I should like such a one. I should notdie of hunger in my old age in the Ulus," repeated he.
But Kmita from time to time struck him on the stomach and said,--
"Here listen, wild boar! If the Swedes do not open your paunch, youwill hide the contents of all cupboards inside it."
"Where are the Swedes? Our ropes will rot, our bows will be mildewed,"answered Ulan, who was homesick for war.
They were advancing indeed through a country to which a Swedish foothad not been able to come, but farther they would pass through one inwhich there had been garrisons afterward driven out by confederates.They met everywhere smaller and larger bands of armed nobles, marchingin various directions, and not smaller bands of peasants, who more thanonce stopped the road to them threateningly, and to whom it was oftendifficult to explain that they had to do with friends and servants ofthe King of Poland.
They came at last to Zamost. The Tartars were amazed at sight of thismighty fortress; but what did they think when told that not long beforeit had stopped the whole power of Hmelnitski?
Pan Zamoyski, the owner by inheritance, permitted them as a mark ofgreat affection and favor to enter the town. They were admitted througha brick gate, while the other two were stone. Kmita himself did notexpect to see anything similar, and he could not recover fromastonishment at sight of the broad streets, built in straight lines,Italian fashion; at sight of the splendid college, and the academy, thecastle, walls, the great cannon and every kind of provision. As fewamong magnates could be compared with the grandson of the greatchancellor, so there were few fortresses that could be compared withZamost.
But the greatest ecstasy seized the Tartars, when they saw the Armenianpart of the town. Their nostrils drew in greedily the odor of morocco,a great manufacture of which was carried on by industrial immigrantsfrom Kaffa; and their eyes laughed at sight of the dried fruits andconfectionery, Eastern carpets, girdles, inlaid sabres, daggers, bows,Turkish lamps, and every kind of costly article.
The cup-bearer of the kingdom himself pleased Kmita's heart greatly, hewas a genuine kinglet in that Zamost of his; a man in the strength ofhis years, of fine presence though lacking somewhat robustness, for hehad not restrained sufficiently the ardors of nature in early years. Hehad always loved the fair sex, but his health had not been shaken tothat degree that joyousness had vanished from his face. So far he hadnot married, and though the most renowned houses in the Commonwealthhad opened wide their doors, he asserted that he could not find in thema sufficiently beautiful maiden. He found her somewhat later, in theperson of a young French lady, who though in love with another gave himher hand without hesitation, not foreseeing that the first one,disregarded, would adorn in the future his own and her head with akingly crown.
The lord of Zamost was not distinguished for quick wit, though he hadenough for his own use. He did not strive for dignities and offices,though they came to him of themselves; and when his friends reproachedhim with a lack of native ambition, he answered,--"It is not true thatI lack it, for I have more than those who bow down. Why should I wearout the thresholds of the court? In Zamost I am not only Yan Zamoyski,but Sobiepan Zamoyski,"[4] with which name he was very well pleased. Hewas glad to affect simple manners, though he had received a refinededucation and had passed his youth in journeys through foreign lands.He spoke of himself as a common noble, and spoke emphatically of themoderateness of his station, perhaps so that others might contradicthim, and perhaps so that they might not notice his medium wit. On thewhole he was an honorable man, and a better son of the Commonwealththan many others.
And as he came near Kmita's heart, so did Kmita please him; thereforehe invited Pan Andrei to the chambers of the castle and entertainedhim, for he loved this also, that men should exalt his hospitality.
Pan Andrei came to know in the castle many noted persons; above all,Princess Griselda Vishnyevetski, sister of Pan Zamoyski and widow ofthe great Yeremi,--a man who in his time was well-nigh the greatest inthe Commonwealth, who nevertheless had lost his whole immense fortunein the time of the Cossack incursion, so that the princess was nowliving at Zamost, on the bounty of her brother Yan.
But that lady was so full of grandeur, of majesty and virtue, that herbrother was the first to blow away the dust from before her; andmoreover he feared her like fire. There was no case in which he did notgratify her wishes, nor an affair the most important concerning whichhe did not advise with her. The people of the castle said that theprincess ruled Zamost, the army, the treasury, and her brother; but shedid not wish to take advantage of her preponderance, being given withher whole soul to grief for her husband and to the education of herson.
That son had recently returned for a short time from the court ofVienna and was living with her. He was a youth in the springtime oflife; but in vain did Kmita seek in him those marks which the son ofthe great Yeremi should bear in his features.
The figure of the young prince was graceful; but he had a large, fullface, and protruding eyes with a timid look; he had coarse lips, moist,as with people inclined to pleasures of the table; an immense growth ofhair, black as a raven's wing, fell to his shoulders. He inherited fromhis father only that raven hair and dark complexion.
Pan Andrei was assured by those who were more intimate with the princethat he had a noble soul, unusual understanding, and a remarkablememory, thanks to which he was able to speak almost all languages; andthat a certain heaviness of body and temperament with a native greedfor food were the only defects of that otherwise remarkable young man.
In fact, after he had entered into conversation with him Pan Andreibecame convinced that the prince not only had an understanding mind anda striking judgment touching everything, but the gift of attractingpeople. Kmita loved him after the first conversation with that feelingin which compassion is the greatest element. He felt that he would givemuch to bring back to that orphan the brilliant
future which belongedto him by right of birth.
Pan Andrei convinced himself at the first dinner that what was said ofthe gluttony of Michael Vishnyevetski was true. The young prince seemedto think of nothing save eating. His prominent eyes followed each dishuneasily, and when they brought him the platter he took an enormousquantity on his plate and ate ravenously, smacking his lips as onlygluttons do. The marble face of the princess grew clouded with stillgreater sorrow at that sight. It became awkward for Kmita, so that heturned away his eyes and looked at Sobiepan.
But Zamoyski was not looking either at Prince Michael or his own guest.Kmita followed his glance, and behind the shoulders of PrincessGriselda he saw a wonderful sight indeed, which he had not hithertonoticed.
It was the small pretty head of a maiden, who was as fair as milk, asred as a rose, and beautiful as an image. Short wavy locks ornamentedher forehead; her quick eyes were directed to the officers sitting nearZamoyski, not omitting Sobiepan himself. At last those eyes rested onKmita, and looked at him fixedly, as full of coquetry as if theyintended to gaze into the depth of his heart.
But Kmita was not easily confused; therefore he began to look at onceinto those eyes with perfect insolence, and then he punched in the sidePan Shurski, lieutenant of the armored castle squadron at Zamost, whowas sitting near him, and asked in an undertone,--
"But who is that tailed farthing?"
"Worthy sir," answered Shurski, aloud, "do not speak slightingly whenyou do not know of whom you are speaking. That is Panna AnusiaBorzobogati. And you will not call her otherwise unless you wish toregret your rudeness."
"You do not know, sir, that a farthing is a kind of bird and verybeautiful, therefore there is no contempt in the name," answered Kmita,laughing; "but noticing your anger you must be terribly in love."
"But who is not in love?" muttered the testy Shurski. "Pan Zamoyskihimself has almost looked his eyes out, and is as if sitting on anawl."
"I see that, I see that!"
"What do you see? He, I, Grabovski, Stolangyevich, Konoyadzki, Rubetskiof the dragoons, Pyechynga,--she has sunk us all. And with you it willbe the same, if you stay here. With her twenty-four hours aresufficient."
"Lord brother! with me she could do nothing in twenty-four months."
"How is that?" asked Shurski, with indignation; "are you made of metal,or what?"
"No! But if some one had stolen the last dollar from your pocket youwould not be afraid of a thief."
"Is that it?" answered Shurski.
Kmita grew gloomy at once, for his trouble came to his mind, and henoticed no longer that the black eyes were looking still morestubbornly at him, as if asking, "What is thy name, whence dost thoucome, youthful knight?"
But Shurski muttered: "Bore, bore away! She bored that way into me tillshe bored to my heart. Now she does not even care."
Kmita shook himself out of his seriousness.
"Why the hangman does not some one of you marry her?"
"Each one prevents every other."
"The girl will be left in the lurch," said Kmita, "though in truththere must be white seeds in that pear yet."
Shurski opened his eyes, and bending to Kmita's ear said verymysteriously,--
"They say that she is twenty-five, as I love God. She was with PrincessGriselda before the incursion of the rabble?"
"Wonder of wonders, I should not give her more than sixteen or eighteenat the most."
This time the devil (the girl) guessed apparently that they weretalking of her, for she covered her gleaming eyes with the lids, andonly shot sidelong glances at Kmita, inquiring continually: "Who artthou, so handsome? Whence dost thou come?" And he began involuntarilyto twirl his mustache.
After dinner Zamoyski, who from respect to the courtly manners of Kmitatreated 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, atleast those who had the arms Tear-Cowl. The last one fell at Zbaraj. Hewas the greatest knight that Lithuania had. Who of us does not know ofPodbipienta?"
"I have heard also of him; but I ask for this reason: There is inattendance on my sister a lady of honorable family. She was thebetrothed of this Podbipienta who was killed at Zbaraj. She is anorphan, without father or mother; and though my sister loves hergreatly, still, being the natural guardian of my sister, I have in thisway the maiden in guardianship."
"A pleasant guardianship!" put in Kmita.
Zamoyski smiled, winked, and smacked his tongue. "Sweetcakes! isn'tshe?"
But suddenly he saw that he was betraying himself, and assumed aserious air.
"Oh, you traitor!" said he, half jestingly, half seriously, "you wantto 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 equalof his guest, and turned the conversation at once.
"That Podbipienta," said he, "bequeathed her some estates therein your region. I don't remember the names of them, for they arestrange,--Baltupie, Syrutsiani, Myshykishki,--in a word, all that hehad. Would I could remember them! Five or six estates."
"They are adjoining estates, not separate. Podbipienta was a verywealthy man, and if that lady should come to his fortune she might haveher 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. Theforest boundary alone is ten miles long, and the fields and meadows areas much more."
"Where are they?"
"In Vityebsk."
"Oh, far away! the affair is not worth the trouble, and the country isunder the enemy."
"When we drive out the enemy we shall come to the property. But thePodbipientas 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 bebetter for her to go to Pan Sapyeha. If he would take the affair inhand, he could do a great deal as voevoda of Vityebsk and the mostnoted man in Lithuania. He could send notices to the tribunals that thewill was made to Panna Borzobogati, so that Podbipienta's more distantrelatives should not seize the property."
"That is true; but now there are no tribunals, and Sapyeha hassomething 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 inwishing to remove her from this place?" thought he.
Zamoyski continued: "It would be difficult for her to live in camp, inthe tent of the voevoda of Vityebsk; but she might stay with hisdaughters."
"I do not understand this," thought Kmita; "would he consent to be onlyher guardian?"
"But here is the difficulty: how can I send her to those parts in thepresent time of disturbance? Several hundred men would be needed, and Icannot 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 theroad--"
"Ah," said Kmita, "another one is managing my affections; and thoughthe tenant pays nothing, still I do not think of making a change."
"So much the better; with all the greater satisfaction can I confideher to you."
A moment of silence followed.
&n
bsp; "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 Godis 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 towar with women,--behold you! I would rather have the Swedes outsideZamost. 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 istrue; but at the first opportunity I'll talk with her touching thismatter."
When he had said this, Zamoyski turned and went away. Kmita looked athim, and muttered,--
"You are setting some snare, Pan Sobiepan; and though I do notunderstand the object, I see the snare quickly, for you are a terriblyawkward trapper."
Zamoyski was pleased with himself, though he understood well that thework was only half done; and another remained so difficult that atthought of it despair seized him, and even terror. He had to getpermission of Princess Griselda, whose severity and penetrating mindPan Sobiepan feared from his whole soul. But having begun, he wished tobring the work to completion as early as possible; therefore nextmorning, after Mass, and breakfast, and after he had reviewed the hiredGerman infantry, he went to the chambers of the princess.
He found the lady embroidering a cope for the college. Behind her wasAnusia winding silk hung upon two armchairs; a second skein of rosecolor she had placed around her neck, and moving her hands quickly, sheran around the chairs in pursuit of the unwinding thread.
Zamoyski's eyes grew bright at sight of her; but he assumed quickly aserious look, and greeting the princess, began as if unwillingly,--
"That Pan Babinich who has come here with the Tartars is aLithuanian,--a man of importance, a very elegant fellow, a born knightin appearance. Have you noticed him?"
"You brought him to me yourself," answered the princess, indifferently,"he has an honest face."
"I asked him concerning that property left Panna Borzobogati. He saysit is a fortune almost equal to that of the Radzivills."
"God grant it to Anusia; her orphanhood will be the lighter, and herold age as well," said the lady.
"But there is a danger lest distant relatives tear it apart. Babinichsays that Sapyeha might occupy himself with it, if he wished. He is anhonest man, and very friendly to us: I would confide my own daughter tohim. It would be enough for him to send notices to the tribunals, andproclaim the guardianship. But Babinich says it is needful that PannaAnusia should go to those places in person."
"Where,--to Pan Sapyeha?"
"Or to his daughters, so as to be there, that the formal installationmight take place."
The starosta invented at that moment "formal installation," thinkingjustly that the princess would accept this counterfeit money instead oftrue coin. She thought a moment, and asked,--
"How could she go now, when Swedes are on the road?"
"I have news that the Swedes have left Lublin. All this side of theVistula is free."
"And who would take Anusia to Pan Sapyeha?"
"Suppose this same Babinich."
"With Tartars? Lord Brother, fear God; those are wild, chaotic people!"
"I am not afraid," put in Anusia, curtesying.
But Princess Griselda had noted already that her brother came with someplan all prepared; therefore she sent Anusia out of the room, and beganto look at Pan Sobiepan with an inquiring gaze. But he said as if tohimself,--
"These Tartars are down in the dust before Babinich; he hangs them forany insubordination."
"I cannot permit this journey," answered the princess. "The girl ishonest but giddy, and rouses enthusiasm quickly. You know that bestyourself. I would never confide her to a young, unknown man."
"Unknown here he is not, for who has not heard of the Babiniches as menof high family and steady people? [Zamoyski had never heard of theBabiniches in his life.] Besides," continued he, "you might give hersome sedate woman as companion, and then decorum would be observed.Babinich I guarantee. I tell you this, too, Lady Sister, that he has inthose places a betrothed with whom he is, as he tells me himself, inlove; and whoso is in love has something else in his head. Thefoundation of the matter is this, that another such chance may not comefor a long time,--the fortune may be lost to the girl, and in ripeyears she may be without a roof above her."
The princess ceased embroidering, raised her head, and fixing herpenetrating eyes on her brother, asked,--
"What reason have you to send her from here?"
"What reason have I?" repeated he, dropping his glance; "what can Ihave?--none!"
"Yan, you have conspired with Babinich against her virtue!"
"There it is! As God is dear to me, only that was wanting! You willread the letter which I shall send to Sapyeha, and give your own. Iwill merely say this to you, that I shall not leave Zamost. Finallyexamine Babinich himself, and ask him whether he will undertake theoffice.
"The moment you suspect me I step aside."
"Why do you insist so that she shall leave Zamost?"
"For I wish her good, and it is the question of an immense fortune.Besides, I confess it concerns me much that she should leave Zamost.Your suspicions have grown disagreeable; it is not to my taste that youshould be frowning at me forever and looking stern. I thought that inconsenting to the departure of the young lady I should find the bestargument against suspicions. God knows I have enough of this, for I amno student who steals under windows at night. I tell you more: myofficers are enraged one against the other, and shaking their sabres atone another. There is neither harmony, nor order, nor service as thereshould be. I have enough of this. But since you are boring me with youreyes, then do as you wish; but look after Michael yourself, for that isyour affair, not mine."
"Michael!" exclaimed the astonished princess.
"I say nothing against the girl. She does not disturb him more thanothers; but if you do not see his arrowy glances and ardent affection,then I tell you this, that Cupid has not such power to blind as amother's love."
Princess Griselda's brows contracted, and her face grew pale.
Pan Sobiepan, seeing that he had struck home at last, slapped his kneeswith his hands and continued,--
"Lady Sister, thus it is, thus it is! What is the affair to me? LetMichael give her silk to unwind, let his nostrils quiver when he looksat her, let him blush, let him look at her through keyholes! What isthat to me? Still, I know--she has a good fortune--her family--well,she is of nobles, and I do not raise myself above nobles. If you wantit yourself, all right. Their years are not the same, but again it isnot my affair."
Zamoyski rose, and bowing to his sister very politely, started to goout.
The blood rushed to her face. The proud lady did not see in the wholeCommonwealth a match worthy of Vishnyevetski, and abroad, perhaps amongthe archduchesses of Austria; therefore these words of her brotherburned her like iron red hot.
"Yan!" said she, "wait!"
"Lady Sister," said Zamoyski, "I wished first to give you proof thatyou suspect me unjustly; second, that you should watch some one besidesme. Now you will do as you please; I have nothing more to say."
Then Pan Zamoyski bowed and went out.