The Deluge. Vol. 2. Генрик Сенкевич

opinion is that the smaller the party the easier it will pass."

      "How is that?"

      "The will of your Royal Grace is unfettered," said Kmita, "and can do what it likes, but my reason teaches me this: Let Pan Tyzenhauz go ahead with the dragoons, giving out purposely that he is conducting the king; this he will do to attract the enemy to himself. His affair is to wind out, to escape from the trap safely. And we with a small band in a day or two will move after him with your Royal Grace; and when the enemy's attention is turned in another direction it will be easy for us to reach Lyubovlya."

      The king clapped his hands with delight. "God sent us this soldier!" cried he. "Solomon could not judge better. I give my vote for this plan, and there must not be another. They will hunt for the king among the dragoons, and the king will pass by under their noses. It could not be better!"

      "Gracious King," cried Tyzenhauz, "that is pastime."

      "Soldier's pastime!" said the king. "But no matter, I will not recede from that plan."

      Kmita's eyes shone from delight because his opinion had prevailed, but Tyzenhauz sprang from his seat.

      "Gracious Lord!" said he, "I resign my command from the dragoons. Let some one else lead them."

      "And why is that?"

      "For if your Royal Grace will go without defence, exposed to the play of fortune, to every destructive chance which may happen, I wish to be near your person to expose my breast for you and to die should the need be."

      "I thank you for your sincere intention," answered Yan Kazimir; "but calm yourself, for in just such a way as Babinich advises shall I be least exposed."

      "Let Pan Babinich, or whatever his name may be, take what he advises on his own responsibility! It may concern him that your Royal Grace be lost in the mountains. I take as witness God and my companions here present that I advised against it from my soul."

      Scarcely had he finished speaking when Kmita sprang up, and standing face to face with Tyzenhauz asked, "What do you mean by these words?"

      Tyzenhauz measured him haughtily with his eyes from head to foot, and said, "Do not strain your head, little man, toward mine, the place is too high for you."

      To which Kmita with lightning in his eyes replied, "It is not known for whom it would be too high if – "

      "If what?" asked Tyzenhauz, looking at him quickly.

      "If I should reach higher people, than you."

      Tyzenhauz laughed. "But where would you seek them?"

      "Silence!" said the king suddenly, with a frown. "Do not begin a quarrel in my presence."

      Yan Kazimir made an impression of such dignity on all surrounding him, that both young men were silent and confused, remembering that in the presence of the king unseemly words had escaped them. But the king added, —

      "No one has the right to exalt himself above that cavalier who burst the siege gun and escaped from Swedish hands, even though his father lived in a village, which, as I see, was not the case, for a bird from his feathers, and blood from deeds are easily known. Drop your offences." Here the king turned to Tyzenhauz. "You wish it; then remain with our person. We may not refuse that. Wolf or Denhoff will lead the dragoons. But Babinich too will remain, and we will go according to his counsel, for he has pleased our heart."

      "I wash my hands!" said Tyzenhauz.

      "Only preserve the secret, gentlemen. Let the dragoons go to Ratibor to-day, and spread as widely as possible the report that I am with them. And then be on the watch, for you know not the day nor the hour – Go, Tyzenhauz, give the order to the captain of the dragoons."

      Tyzenhauz went out wringing his hands from anger and sorrow; after him went other officers.

      That same day the news thundered through all Glogov that the king had already gone to the boundaries of the Commonwealth. Even many distinguished senators thought that the departure had really taken place. Couriers, sent purposely, took the report to Opol and to the roads on the boundary.

      Tyzenhauz, though he had declared that he washed his hands, did not give up the affair as lost; as attendant of the king, he had access to the person of the monarch every moment made easy. That very day therefore, after the dragoons had gone, he stood before the face of Yan Kazimir, or rather before both royal persons, for Marya Ludvika was present.

      "I have come for the order," said he; "when do we start?"

      "The day after to-morrow, before dawn."

      "Are many people to go?"

      "You will go; Lugovski with the soldiers. The castellan of Sandomir goes also with me. I begged him to take as few men as possible; but we cannot dispense with a few trusty and tried sabres. Besides, his holiness the nuncio wishes to accompany me; his presence will add importance, and will touch all who are faithful to the true church. He does not hesitate therefore to expose his sacred person to hazard. Do you have a care that there are not more than forty horses, for that is Babinich's counsel."

      "Gracious Lord!" said Tyzenhauz.

      "And what do you wish yet?"

      "On my knees I implore one favor. The question is settled, the dragoons have gone, – we shall travel without defence, and the first scouting party of a few tens of horses may capture us. Listen, your Royal Grace, to the prayer of your servant, on whose faithfulness God is looking, and do not trust in everything to that noble. He is an adroit man, since he has been able in so short a time to steal into your heart and favor; but – "

      "Do you envy him?" interrupted the king.

      "I do not envy him, Gracious Lord; I do not wish even to suspect him of treason positively; but I would swear that his name is not Babinich. Why does he hide his real name? Why is it somehow inconvenient to tell what he did before the siege of Chenstohova? Why specially has he insisted upon dragoons going out first, and that your Royal Grace should go without an escort?"

      The king thought awhile, and began, according to his custom, to pout his lips repeatedly.

      "If it were a question of collusion with the Swedes," said he at last, "what could three hundred dragoons do? What power would they be, and what protection? Babinich would need merely to notify the Swedes to dispose a few hundred infantry along the roads, and they could take us as in a net. But only think if there can be a question of treason here. He would have had to know beforehand the date of our journey, and to inform the Swedes in Cracow; and how could he do so, since we move the day after to-morrow? He could not even guess that we would choose his plan; we might have gone according to your suggestion or that of others. It was at first decided to go with the dragoons; then if he wished to talk with the Swedes this special party would have confused his arrangements, for he would have to send out new messengers and give fresh notice. All these are irrefragable reasons. And besides he did not insist at all on his opinion, as you say; he only offered, as did others, what seemed to him best. No, no! Sincerity is looking forth from the eyes of that noble, and his burned side bears witness that he is ready to disregard even torture."

      "His Royal Grace is right," said the queen, on a sudden; "these points are irrefragable, and the advice was and is good."

      Tyzenhauz knew from experience that when the queen gave her opinion it would be vain for him to appeal to the king, Yan Kazimir had such confidence in her wit and penetration. And it was a question now with the young man only that the king should observe needful caution.

      "It is not my duty," answered he, "to oppose my king and queen. But if we are to go the day after to-morrow, let this Babinich not know of it till the hour of departure."

      "That may be," said the king.

      "And on the road I will have an eye on him, and should anything happen he will not go alive from my hands."

      "You will not have to act," said the queen. "Listen; not you will preserve the king from evil happenings on the road, from treason, and snares of the enemy; not you, not Babinich, not the dragoons, not the powers of earth, but the Providence of God, whose eye is turned continually on the shepherds of nations and the anointed of the Lord. It will guard him. It will protect him