"Gracious gentlemen!" said he, "the health of the young couple!" A shout was heard: "_Vivant! crescant, floreant!_" Then the king again spoke,-- "Enjoy your happiness quickly," said he to Tachevski, "for it deserves that, and it will not be long. Thou shouldst remain here a few days, but then thou must follow on quickly for we shall not wait for thee." "It is easier for her to hold out without thee, than Vienna without us," said Pan Marek Matchynski, smiling at Yatsek. "But Lyubomirski is shelling out the Turks there," said one of the hussars. "I have good news from our men," said the king. "This I have commanded Matchynski to bring, to be read to you, and gladden the hearts of our warriors. It is what the Duke of Lorraine, commander-in-chief for the emperor, writes me of the battle near Presburg." And he read somewhat slowly, for he read to the nobles in Polish, and the letter was in the French language. "'The emperor's cavalry advanced with effect and enthusiasm, but the action was ended by the Poles who left no work to the Germans. I cannot find words sufficient to praise the strength, valor, and bearing of the officers and soldiers led by Pan Lyubomirski.[8] "'The battle,' writes the Duke of Lorraine, 'was a great one, and our glory not small.'" "We will show that we are not worse," cried the warriors. "I believe and am confident, but we must hasten, for later letters portend evil. Vienna is barely able to breathe, and all Christianity has its eyes on us. Shall we be there in season?" "Few regiments have remained here, the main forces are at the Tarnovski Heights waiting, as I have heard, under the hetmans," said Father Voynovski, "but though our hands are needed at Vienna, they are not needed so much as a leader like your Royal Grace." Sobieski smiled at this and answered,-- "That, word for word, is what the Duke of Lorraine writes. So, gentlemen, keep the bridles in hand, for any hour I may order the sounding of trumpets." "When, gracious lord?" called a number of voices. The king grew impressive in a moment. "I will send off to-morrow those regiments which are still with me," then he glanced quickly at Tachevski, as if testing him. "Since her grace the queen will go to the Heights with us to see the review there, thou, unless thou ask of us an entirely new office, may remain here, if thou engage to overtake us exactly." Yatsek, putting his arm around his wife, pushed one step toward the king with her.