CHAPTER XXVII.
The messengers had a meeting with Yurand on the following day about noon; an hour later they drove away, taking with them de Bergov, two attendants, and a number of other captives. After that, Yurand summoned Father Kaleb, to whom he dictated a letter to Prince Yanush, with information that the Knights of the Cross had not stolen away Danusia, but that he had succeeded in discovering where she was hidden, and hoped in the course of a few days to find her. He repeated the same to Zbyshko, who since the night before had been wild from amazement and fear. The old knight would answer no question, but told him to wait patiently and undertake nothing toward freeing Danusia, because it would be superfluous. Toward evening he shut himself in with the priest, whom he commanded first of all to write his last will; then he confessed, and, after receiving communion, summoned Zbyshko and the old, ever-silent Tolima, who had been his companion in all expeditions and battles, and who in time of peace managed the lands in Spyhov.
"Here is," said he, turning to the old warrior and raising his voice as if speaking to a man hard of hearing, "the husband of my daughter, whom he married at the court of Prince Yanush, and for which he has received my consent. After my death he is to be therefore the owner and inheritor of this castle, the lands, the forests, the meadows, the people, and all kinds of property existing in Spyhov."
When he heard this, Tolima was greatly astonished, and turned his square head now toward Zbyshko, now toward Yurand; he said nothing, however, for he rarely said anything; he merely inclined before Zbyshko and clasped his knees lightly.
But Yurand spoke on,—
"Which will of mine Father Kaleb has written, and at the end of the writing my seal is placed in wax; thou art to testify that thou hast heard this from my lips, and that I have commanded thee to give the same obedience to this young knight as to me. Therefore, whatever plunder and money there is in the treasury thou wilt show him,—and thou wilt be faithful to him in peace and in war until death. Hast thou heard me?"
