"Here, ready for service. Harasimovich was with me, and brought an order from the prince to have the men on horseback at midnight. I asked him if we were all to march; he said not. I know not what it means. Of other officers some have the same order, others have not. But all the foreign infantry have received it." "Perhaps a part of the army will march to-night and a part in the morning," said Pan Yan. "In every case I will have a drink here with you, gentlemen. Let the squadron go on by itself; I can come up with it afterward in an hour." At that moment Harasimovich rushed in. "Serene great mighty banneret of Orsha!" cried he, bowing in the doorway. "What? Is there a fire? I am here!" said Kmita. "To the prince! to the prince!" "Straightway, only let me put on my uniform. Boy, my coat and belt, or I'll kill thee!" The boy brought the rest of the uniform in a twinkle; and a few minutes later Pan Kmita, arrayed as for a wedding, was hurrying to the prince. He was radiant, he seemed so splendid. He had a vest of silver brocade with star-shaped buttons, from which there was a gleam over his whole figure; the vest was fastened at the neck with a great sapphire. Over that a coat of blue velvet; a white belt of inestimable value, so thin that it might be drawn through a finger-ring. A silver-mounted sword set with sapphires hung from the belt by silk pendants; behind the belt was thrust the baton, which indicated his office. This dress became the young knight wonderfully, and it would have been difficult in that countless throng gathered at Kyedani to find a more shapely man. Pan Michael sighed while looking at him; and when Kmita had vanished beyond the door of the barracks he said to Zagloba, "With a fair head there is no opposing a man like that." "But take thirty years from me," answered Zagloba. When Kmita entered, the prince also was dressed, attended by two negroes; he was about to leave the room. The prince and Pan Andrei remained face to face. "God give you health for hurrying!" said the hetman. "At the service of your highness." "But the squadron?" "According to order." "The men are reliable?" "They will go into fire, to hell." "That is good! I need such men,--and such as you, equal to anything. I repeat continually that on no one more than you do I count." "Your highness, my services cannot equal those of old soldiers; but if we have to march against the enemy of the country, God sees that I shall not be in the rear." "I do not diminish the services of the old," said the prince, "though there may come such perils, such grievous junctures, that the most faithful will totter." "May he perish for nothing who deserts the person of your highness in danger!" The prince looked quickly into the face of Kmita. "And you will not draw back?"