"With that balm which the Krzyzaks will send, you had better smear a dog than a knight whom you love. I will give you something else." Then he turned to the courtiers and said: "Hurry and bring the spurs and the girdle." After a while, when they had brought them to him, he said to Danusia: "Take these to Zbyszko--and tell him that from this time he is a belted knight. If he die, then he will appear before God as _miles cinctus_; if he live, then the rest will be accomplished in Ciechanow or in Warszawa." Having heard this, Danusia seized "the lord" by his knees; then caught the knightly insignia with one hand and the pot of porridge with the other, and rushed to the room where Zbyszko was lying. The princess, not wishing to lose the sight of their joy, followed her. Zbyszko was very ill, but having perceived Danusia, he turned his pale face toward her and asked: "Has the Czech returned?" "No matter about the Czech!" answered the girl. "I bring you better news than that. The lord has made you a knight and has sent you this by me." Having said this, she put beside him the girdle and the spurs. Zbyszko's pale cheeks flushed with joy and astonishment, he glanced at Danusia and then at the spurs; then he closed his eyes and began to repeat: "How could he dub me a knight?" At that moment the princess entered, and he raised himself a little and began to thank her, because he guessed that her intervention had brought such a great favor and bliss to him. But she ordered him to be quiet and helped Danusia to put his head on the pillows again. In the meanwhile, the prince, the _ksiondz_ Wyszoniek, Mrokota and several other courtiers entered. Prince Janusz waved his hand to signify that Zbyszko must not move; then having seated himself beside the bed, he said: "You know! The people must not wonder that there is reward for good deeds, because if virtue remained without any reward, human iniquities would walk without punishment. You did not spare your life, but with peril to yourself defended us from dreadful mourning; therefore we permit you to don the knightly girdle, and from this moment to walk in glory and fame." "Gracious lord," answered Zbyszko. "I would not spare even ten lives----" But he could not say anything more, on account of his emotion; and the princess put her hand on his mouth because the _ksiondz_ Wyszoniek did not permit him to talk. The prince continued further: "I think that you know the knightly duties and that you will wear the insignia with honor. You must serve our Saviour, and fight with the _starosta_ of hell. You must be faithful to the anointed lord, avoid unrighteous war and defend innocence against oppression; may God and His Holy Passion help you!" "Amen!" answered the _ksiondz_ Wyszoniek. The prince arose, made the sign of the cross over Zbyszko and added: "And when you recover, go immediately to Ciechanow, where I will summon Jurand." CHAPTER VIII.