CHAPTER XXXIV.
The prince opened the consultation.
"It is unfortunate," said he, "that we have no letter or testimony against the comturs; our suspicion seems just, it is true, and I myself believe that they and no one else seized Yurand's daughter,—but what of that? They will deny. And when the Grand Master demands proof what shall we show him? Nay, more! Yurand's letter is proof in their favor." Here he turned to Zbyshko. "Thou sayst that they extorted the letter from Yurand by threats. Perhaps that is really true, for if justice were on their side God would not have aided thee against Rotgier. But since they extorted one letter perhaps they extorted two. They may have a testimony from Yurand that they are innocent of seizing the unfortunate maiden. In that case they will show it to the Grand Master what will happen then?"
"But they themselves stated that they rescued Danusia from bandits, and that they have her."
"I know. But now they will say that they were mistaken and that it was another girl, the best proof of which is that Yurand himself rejected her."
"He did, for they showed him a different person; through this they enraged him."
"That is true indeed, but they can say that this is merely guess work on our part."
"Their lies," said Mikolai, "are like a forest. Something may be seen from the edge of a forest, but the farther a man goes the denser it becomes, till he gets astray and loses himself altogether."
Then he repeated in German his words to De Lorche, who said,—
"The Grand Master is better than they, and better than his brother; though insolent in spirit he is sensitive to knightly honor."
"True," answered Mikolai. "The Grand Master is humane, but has not power to restrain comturs or the
