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Bogun has gone out with the falcon, not wishing to look at you; for he had suspicions even yesterday. If he were here, we should not get on without bloodshed.โ€

โ€œI do not wear a sword, madam, to have my belt cut off.โ€

โ€œBut think, is it polite on the part of such a knight as you, after entering a house by invitation, to force people in this way, and take a maiden by assault, as if from Turkish slavery?โ€

โ€œIt is right, since she was to be sold against her will to a peasant.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t say that of Bogun, for though of unknown parentage, he is a famous warrior and a splendid knight; known to us from childhood, he is like a relative in the house. To take the maiden from him is the same as to stab him with a knife.โ€

โ€œWell, Princess, it is time for me to go. Pardon me, then, if I ask you once more to make your choice.โ€

The princess turned to her sons. โ€œWell, my sons, what do you say to such an humble request from this cavalier?โ€

The young men looked down, nudged each other with their elbows, and were silent. At last Simeon muttered: โ€œIf you tell us, mother, to slay him, we will slay; if you say give the girl, we will give her.โ€

โ€œTo give is bad, and to slay is bad.โ€ Then turning to Skshetuski, she said: โ€œYou have pushed us to the wall so closely that there is no escape. Bogun is a madman, ready for anything. Who will save us from his vengeance? He will perish himself through the prince, but he will destroy us first. What are we to do?โ€

โ€œThat is your affair.โ€

The princess was silent for a time, then said: โ€œListen to me. All this must remain a secret. We will send Bogun to Pereyaslรกv, and will go ourselves with Helena to Lubni, and you will ask the prince to send us a guard at Rozlogi. Bogun has a hundred and fifty Cossacks in the neighborhood; part of them are here. You cannot take Helena immediately, for he would rescue her. It cannot be arranged otherwise. Go your way, therefore; tell the secret to no man, and wait for us.โ€

โ€œBut wonโ€™t you betray me?โ€

โ€œIf we only could; but we cannot, as you see yourself. Give your word that you will keep the secret.โ€

โ€œIf I give it, will you give the girl?โ€

โ€œYes, for we are unable not to give her, though we are sorry for Bogun.โ€

โ€œPshaw!โ€ said the lieutenant, turning to the princes, โ€œThere are four of you, like oaks, and afraid of one Cossack, and you wish to overcome him by treason! Though I am obliged to thank you, still I say that it is not the thing for men of honor.โ€

โ€œDo not interfere in this,โ€ cried the princess. โ€œIt is not your affair. What can we do? How many soldiers have you against his hundred and fifty Cossacks? Will you protect us? Will you protect Helena herself, whom he is ready to bear away by force? This is not your affair. Go your way to Lubni. How we must act is for us to judge, if we only bring Helena to you.โ€

โ€œDo what you like; but one thing I repeat: If any wrong comes to Helena, woe to you!โ€

โ€œDo not treat us in this fashion, you might drive us to desperation.โ€

โ€œYou wished to bend her to your will, and now, when selling her for Rozlogi, it has never entered your heads to ask whether my person is pleasing to her.โ€

โ€œWe are going to ask her in your presence,โ€ said the princess, suppressing the rage which began to seethe up again in her breast, for she felt clearly the contempt in these words of Skshetuski.

Simeon went for Helena, and soon entered the room with her. Amidst the rage and threats which still seemed to quiver in the air like the echoes of a tempest that has passed, amidst those frowning brows, angry looks, and threatening scowls, her beautiful face shone like the sun after a storm.

โ€œWell, young lady!โ€ said the princess sullenly, pointing to Pan Yan; โ€œif you choose this man, he is your future husband.โ€

Helena grew pale, and with a sudden cry covered her eyes with her two hands; then suddenly stretched them toward Skshetuski.

โ€œIs this true?โ€ whispered she, in transport.

An hour later the retinue of the envoy and the lieutenant moved slowly along the forest road toward Lubni. Skshetuski with Pan Longin Podbipienta rode in front; after them came the wagons of the envoy in a long line. The lieutenant was completely sunk in thought and longing, when suddenly he was roused from his pensiveness by the words of the songโ โ€”

โ€œI grieve, I grieve, my heart is sore.โ€

In the depth of the forest appeared Bogun on a narrow path trodden out by the peasants. His horse was covered with foam and mud. Apparently the Cossack, according to habit, had gone out to the steppes and the forest to dissipate with the wind, destroy, and forget in the distance that which over-pained his heart. He was returning then to Rozlogi.

Looking on that splendid, genuine knightly form, which only flashed up before him and vanished, Skshetuski murmured involuntarilyโ โ€”

โ€œIt is lucky in every case that he brained a man in her presence.โ€

All at once an undefined sorrow pressed his heart. He was sorry as it were for Bogun, but still more sorry that having bound himself by word to the princess, he was unable that moment to urge his horse after him and sayโ โ€”

โ€œWe love the same woman; there is one of us, therefore, who cannot live in the world. Draw your sword, Cossack!โ€

V

When he arrived at Lubni, Pan Yan did not find the prince, who had gone to a christening at the house of an old attendant of his, Pan Sufchinski, at Senchy, taking with him the princess, two young princesses Zbaraskie, and many persons of the castle. Word was sent to Senchy of

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