There was a moment of silence; then the sturdy and virulent Zygfried von Löve spoke: "We must finish once for all with that bloody dog!" said he. "Herr von Bergow must be released from his fetters. We will gather the garrisons from Szczytno, Insburk and Lubowa; we will summon the Chelminsk nobility and attack Jurand. It is time to settle with him!" "We cannot do it without permission from the grand master." "If we succeed, the grand master will be pleased!" said Brother Godfried. "But if we do not succeed? If the prince go against us?" "He will not do that if there is peace between him and the Order." "There is peace, but we are going to violate it. Our garrisons will not be sufficient to fight against the Mazurs." "Then the grand master will help us and there will be a war." Danveld frowned again and became thoughtful. "No! no!" said he after a while. "If we be successful, the grand master will be pleased. Envoys will be sent to the prince, there will be negotiations and we will go scot-free. But in case of defeat, the Order will not intercede for us and will not declare war. Another grand master is necessary for that. The Polski king is behind the prince, and the grand master will not quarrel with him." "But we have taken the Dobrzynska province; it is evident that we are not afraid of Krakow." "There was some pretext--Opolczyk. We took it apparently in pledge, and then----" Here he looked around and said quietly: "I heard in Marienburg, that if they threaten us with war, we will return the province." "Ah!" said Brother Rotgier, "if we had Markward Salzbach with us, or Shomberg who killed Witold's whelps, he would find some remedy against Jurand. Witold was the king's viceroy and a grand duke! Notwithstanding that, Shomberg was not punished. He killed Witold's children, and went scot-free! Verily, there is great lack among us of people who can find a remedy for everything." Having heard this, Hugo von Danveld put his elbows on the table, leaned his head on his hands and plunged into deep thought. Then his eyes became bright, he wiped, according to his custom, his moist, thick lips with the upper part of his hand and said: "May the moment in which you mentioned, pious brother, the name of the valiant Shomberg be blessed." "Why? Have you found a remedy?" asked Zygfried von Löve. "Speak quickly!" exclaimed Brother Godfried. "Listen," said Hugo. "Jurand has a daughter here, his only child, whom he loves dearly." "Yes, so he has. We know her. The princess Anna Danuta loves her also." "Yes. Listen then: if you capture this girl, Jurand will give as a ransom for her, not only, Bergow, but all his prisoners, himself and Spychow!" "By Saint Bonifacius' blood shed in Duchum!" exclaimed Brother Godfried; "it would be as you say!" Then they were silent, as if frightened by the boldness and the difficulties of the enterprise. But after a while Brother Rotgier turned toward Zygfried von Löve, and said: