The peasant waved his hand. "Well, the master is not there." "I know that, because he is in Upita. But what is going on in the house?" "Well!--" "Listen, Znikis, speak boldly; not a hair will fall from thy head. People say that the master is good, but his companions wild?" "If they were only wild, serene lady!--" "Speak candidly." "But, lady, if it is not permitted me--I am afraid--they have forbidden me." "Who has forbidden?" "My master." "Has he?" asked the lady. A moment of silence ensued. She walked quickly in the room, with compressed lips and frowning brow. He followed her with his eyes. Suddenly she stopped before him. "To whom dost thou belong?" "To the Billeviches. I am from Vodokty, not from Lyubich." "Thou wilt return no more to Lyubich; stay here. Now I command thee to tell all thou knowest." The peasant cast himself on his knees at the threshold where he was standing. "Serene lady, I do not want to go back; the day of judgment is there. They are bandits and cut-throats; in that place a man is not sure of the day nor the hour." Panna Billevich staggered as if stricken by an arrow. She grew very pale, but inquired calmly, "Is it true that they fired in the room, at the portraits?" "Of course they fired! And they dragged girls into their rooms, and every day the same debauchery. In the village is weeping, at the house Sodom and Gomorrah. Oxen are killed for the table, sheep for the table. The people are oppressed. Yesterday they killed the stable man without cause." "Did they kill the stable-man?" "Of course. And worst of all, they abused the girls. Those at the house are not enough for them; they chase others through the village." A second interval of silence followed. Hot blushes came out on the lady's face, and did not leave it. "When do they look for the master's return?" "They do not know, my lady. But I heard, as they were talking to one another, that they would have to start to-morrow for Upita with their whole company. They gave command to have horses ready. They will come here and beg my lady for attendants and powder, because they need both there." "They are to come here? That is well. Go now, Znikis, to the kitchen. Thou wilt return to Lyubich no more." "May God give you health and happiness!" Panna Aleksandra had learned what she wanted, and she knew how it behooved her to act. The following day was Sunday. In the morning, before the ladies had gone to church, Kokosinski, Uhlik, Kulvyets-Hippocentaurus, Ranitski, Rekuts, and Zend arrived, followed by the servants at Lyubich, armed and on horseback, for the cavaliers had decided to march to Upita with succor for Kmita. The lady went out to meet them calmly and haughtily, altogether different from the woman who had greeted them for the first time a few days before. She barely motioned with her head in answer to their humble bows; but they thought that the absence of Pan Kmita made her cautious, and took no note of the real situation.