“Truth itself was in his words,” added Marya Ludvika. “I am not deceived in men.” “Gracious King and Queen, permit. Let some man go aside with me, for it would be grievous for me to live here in suspicion.” “I will go,” said Pan Tyzenhauz, a young attendant of the king. So saying, he conducted Kmita to another room, and on the way said to him, “I do not go because I do not believe you, for I believe; but to speak with you. Have we met somewhere in Lithuania? I cannot remember your name, for it may be that I saw you when a youth, and I myself was a youth then?” Kmita turned away his face somewhat to hide his sudden confusion. “Perhaps at some provincial diet. My late father took me with him frequently to see public business.” “Perhaps. Your face is surely not strange to me, though at that time it had not those scars. Still see how _memoria fragilis est_ (weak memory is); also it seems to me you had a different name.” “Years dull the memory,” answered Pan Andrei. They went to another room. After a while Tyzenhauz returned to the royal pair. “He is roasted, Gracious King, as on a spit,” said he; “his whole side is burned.” When Kmita in his turn came back, the king rose, pressed his head, and said,— “We have never doubted that you speak the truth, and neither your pain nor your services will pass unrewarded.” “We are your debtors,” added the queen, extending her hand to him. Pan Andrei dropped on one knee and kissed with reverence the hand of the queen, who stroked him on the head like a mother. “Be not angry with the chancellor,” said the king. “In this place there are really not a few traitors, or, if not traitors, men who are unwise, that wind three after three, and it belongs to the chancellor’s office to discover truth touching public affairs.” “What does my poor anger mean for such a great man?” answered Pan Andrei. “And I should not dare to murmur against a worthy senator, who gives an example of loyalty and love of country to all.” The chancellor smiled kindly and extended his hand. “Well, let there be peace! You spoke ill to me of wax; but know this, that the Korytsinskis have sealed often with blood, not with wax only.” The king was rejoiced. “This Babinich has pleased us,” said he to the senators, “has touched our heart as few have. We will not let you go from our side, and God grant that we shall return together soon to our beloved country.”