"She is not married! Although she will inherit Spychow, and there are many handsome youths at the court, yet not one of them looks into her eyes, because all respect your vow; then the princess would not permit it. Hej! there will be great joy. Sometimes they teased the girl! Some one would tell her: 'Your knight will not come back!' Then she would reply: 'He will be back! He will be back!' Sometimes they told her that you had married another; then she cried." These words made Zbyszko feel very tender; he also felt angry because Danusia had been vexed; therefore he said: "I shall challenge those who said such things about me!" Jendrek of Kropiwnica began to laugh and said: "The women teased her! Will you challenge a woman? You cannot do anything with a sword against a distaff." Zbyszko was pleased that he had met such a cheerful companion; he began to ask Jendrek about Danusia. He also inquired about the customs of the Mazowiecki court, about Prince Janusz, and about the princess. Finally he told what he had heard about the war during his journey, and how the people were making preparations for it, and were expecting it every day. He asked whether the people in the principalities of Mazowsze, thought it would soon come. The heir of Kropiwnica did not think that the war was near. The people said that it could not be avoided; but he had heard the prince himself say to Mikolaj of Dlugolas, that the Knights of the Cross were very peaceable now, and if the king only insisted, they would restore the province of Dobrzyn to Poland; or they would try to delay the whole affair, until they were well prepared, "The prince went to Malborg a short time ago," said he, "where during the absence of the grand master, the grand marshal received him and entertained him with great hospitality; now there are some _comthurs_ here, and other guests are coming." Here he stopped for a while, and then added: "The people say that the Krzyzaks have a purpose in coming here and in going to Plock to the court of Prince Ziemowit. They would like to have the princes pledge themselves not to help the king but to aid them; or if they do not agree to help the Krzyzaks, that at least they will remain neutral; but the princes will not do that." "God will not permit it. Would you stay home? Your princes belong to the kingdom of Poland!" "No, we would not stay home," answered Jendrek of Kropiwnica. Zbyszko again glanced at the foreign knights, and at their peacocks' tufts, and asked: "Are these knights going for that purpose?" "They are brothers of the Order and perhaps that is their motive. Who understands them?" "And that third one?" "He is going because he is inquisitive." "He must be some famous knight." "Bah! three heavily laden wagons follow him, and he has nine men in his escort. I would like to fight with such a man!" "Can you not do it?"