"You will say, that this _pontnik_ who came with me, brought you the ransom, we also will leave here with the noble von Bergow and the prisoners." "How so?" said Jurand, frowning, "do you think that I will give up the prisoners before you return my child?" "You can act, sir, still differently. You can call personally for your daughter at Szczytno, whither the brethren will bring her to you." "I? at Szczytno?" "Because, should the bandits capture her again on the way, your and your people's suspicion would again fall upon the pious knights, and therefore they prefer to give her into your own hands." "And who will pledge himself for my return, if I walk alone into a wolf's throat?" "The virtue of the brethren, their justice and godliness!" Jurand began to walk up and down the room. He began to suspect treason and feared it, but he felt at the same time that the Teutons could impose any conditions they pleased upon him, and that he was powerless before them. However, an idea struck him, and suddenly halting before the _pontnik_, he gazed at him with a piercing look, and then turned to the messenger and said; "Well, I will go to Szczytno. You and this man, who is wearing _pontnik_ garb, will remain here until my return, after which you will leave with von Bergow and the prisoners." "Do you refuse, sir, to believe friars." said the _pontnik_; "how then can they trust you to liberate us and von Bergow on your return?" Jurand's face turned pale with fury, and a critical moment followed, in which it almost seemed that he would catch the _pontnik_ by the throat and dash him to the floor; but he suppressed his anger, drew a deep breath and commenced to speak slowly but emphatically. "Whoever you are, do not strain my patience to the breaking point!" But the _pontnik_ turned to the sister: "Speak! what you were ordered." "Lord," she said: "we would not dare distrust your oath upon your sword and knightly honor, but it is not proper for you to swear before people of low rank. And we were not sent for your oath." "What were you sent for?" "The brethren told us that, without saying anything to anybody, you must appear at Szczytno with von Bergow and the prisoners." At that, Jurand's shoulders began to draw together, and his fingers to extend like the claws of a bird of prey; at last, stopping before the woman, he bent down, as if to speak into her ear, and said: "Did they not tell you that I should order you and von Bergow to be broken on the wheel in Spychow?" "Your daughter is in the power of the brethren, and under the care of Shomberg and Markward," replied the sister, meaningly. "Robbers, poisoners, hangmen!" burst forth Jurand. "Who are able to avenge us and who said at our departure: 'Should he not comply with all our orders, it would be far better that the girl should die, as Witold's children died.' Choose!"