“What of that?” asked Pan Michael. “It often happens that a dog bites his master in the hand. Better let Babinich tell about his expedition.” “We are listening,” said Pan Yan. Kmita, after he had been silent awhile, drew breath and began to tell of the last campaign of Sapyeha against Boguslav, and the defeat of the latter at Yanov; finally how Prince Boguslav had broken the Tartars, overturned him with his horse, and escaped alive. “But,” interrupted Volodyovski, “you said that you would follow him with your Tartars, even to the Baltic.” “And you told me also in your time,” replied Kmita, “how Pan Yan here present, when Bogun carried off his beloved maiden, forgot her and revenge because the country was in need. A man becomes like those with whom he keeps company; I have joined you, gentlemen, and I wish to follow your example.” “May the Mother of God reward you, as she has Pan Yan!” said Zagloba. “Still I would rather your maiden were in the wilderness than in Boguslav’s hands.” “That is nothing!” exclaimed Pan Michael; “you will find her!” “I have to find not only her person, but her regard and love.” “One will come after the other,” said Pan Michael, “even if you had to take her person by force, as at that time—you remember?” “I shall not do such a deed again.” Here Pan Andrei sighed deeply, and after a while he said, “Not only have I not found her, but Boguslav has taken another from me.” “A pure Turk! as God is dear to me!” cried Zagloba. And Pan Yan inquired: “What other?” “Oh, it is a long story, a long story,” said Kmita. “There was a maiden in Zamost, wonderfully fair, who pleased Pan Zamoyski. He, fearing Princess Vishnyevetski, his sister, did not dare to be over-bold before her; he planned, therefore, to send the maiden away with me, as if to Sapyeha, to find an inheritance in Lithuania, but in reality to take her from me about two miles from Zamost, and put her in some wilderness where no one could stand in his way. But I sounded his intention. You want, thought I to myself, to make a pander of me; wait! I flogged his men, and the lady in all maidenly honor I brought to Sapyeha. Well, I say to you that the girl is as beautiful as a goldfinch, but honest. I am now another man, and my comrades, the Lord light their souls! are long ago dust in the earth.” “What sort of maiden was she?” asked Zagloba. “From a respectable house, a lady-in-waiting on Princess Griselda. She was once engaged to a Lithuanian, Podbipienta, whom you, gentlemen, knew.” “Anusia Borzobogati!” shouted Volodyovski, springing from his place. Zagloba jumped up too from a pile of felt. “Pan Michael, restrain yourself!” But Volodyovski sprang like a cat toward Kmita. “Is it you, traitor, who let Boguslav carry her off?”