"I am a colonel of the hetman, not of the castle; and besides I am the hetman's relative." "A relative?" "I am related to the Kishkis, and the hetman is born of a Kishki." Prince Boguslav looked for a while at Kmita, on whose face a light flush appeared. All at once he stretched forth his hands and said,-- "I beg your pardon, cousin, and I am glad of the relationship." The last words were uttered with a certain inattentive though showy politeness, in which there was something directly painful to Pan Andrei. His face flushed still more, and he was opening his mouth to say something hasty, when the door opened and Harasimovich appeared on the threshold. "There is a letter for you," said Boguslav. Harasimovich bowed to the prince, and then to Pan Andrei, who gave him the letter. "Read it!" said Prince Boguslav. Harasimovich began to read,-- "Pan Harasimovich! Now is the time to show the good will of a faithful servant to his lord. As whatever money you are able to collect, you in Zabludovo and Pan Pjinski in Orel--" "The confederates have slain Pan Pjinski in Orel, for which reason Pan Harasimovich has taken to his heels," interrupted the prince. The under-starosta bowed and read further,-- "--and Pan Pjinski in Orel, even the public revenue, even the excise, rent--" "The confederates have already taken them," interrupted Boguslav again. "--send me at once," continued Harasimovich. "If you can mortgage some villages to neighbors or townspeople, obtaining as much money on them as possible, do so, and whatever means there may be of obtaining money, do your best in the matter, and send the money to me. Send horses and whatever effects there are in Orel. There is a great candlestick too, and other things,--pictures, ornaments, and especially the cannons on the porch at my cousins; for robbers may be feared--" "Again counsel too late, for these cannons are going with me," said the prince. "If they are heavy with the stocks, then take them without the stocks and cover them, so it may not be known that you are bringing them. And take these things to Prussia with all speed, avoiding with utmost care those traitors who have caused mutiny in my army and are ravaging my estates--" "As to ravaging, they are ravaging! They are pounding them into dough," interrupted the prince anew. "--ravaging my estates, and are preparing to move against Zabludovo on their way perhaps to the king. With them it is difficult to fight, for they are many; but if they are admitted, and given plenty to drink, and killed in the night while asleep (every host can do that), or poisoned in strong beer, or (which is not difficult in that place) a wild crowd let in to plunder them--" "Well, that is nothing new!" said Prince Boguslav. "You may journey with me, Pan Harasimovich." "There is still a supplement," said the under-starosta. And he read on, "The wines, if you cannot bring them away (for with us such can be had nowhere), sell them quickly--"