The silence lasted a long while, because they wished to satiate themselves with the sight of the man whom they had previously dreaded, and who stood before them now with his head bowed upon his breast, and dressed like a penitent in sackcloth, and with a rope around his neck, upon which was suspended the scabbard of his sword. They also apparently wanted as great a number of people as possible to witness his humiliation, for through a side door, leading into other rooms, whoever pleased entered, and the hall was nearly half filled with armed men. They all looked with extreme eagerness at Jurand, conversing loudly and making remarks about him. But he gained confidence, at the sight of them, because he thought to himself: "If Danveld did not wish to keep his promise, he would not have ordered so many witnesses." Meanwhile Danveld raised his hand, and stopped the conversation; he then made a sign to one of the warriors, who approached Jurand, and catching the rope which encircled his neck, dragged him a few steps nearer the table. And Danveld looked triumphantly at those present and said: "Look, how the power of religion defeats anger and pride." "May God always grant it so!" answered those present. Then again followed a moment of silence, after which Danveld turned to the prisoner: "You were biting the faith like a mad dog, therefore God has caused you to stand before us, with a rope around your neck, looking for charity and mercy." "Do not compare me with a dog, count," replied Jurand, "because you thus lower the honor of those who met me and fell under my hand." At these words the armed Germans commenced to murmur: it was not known whether the daring answer aroused their anger or whether they were struck by its justice. But the count, dissatisfied at such a turn of the conversation, said: "Look, even now he spits into our eyes with arrogance and pride!" Jurand then raised his hands, like a man who calls heaven to witness, and shaking his head, answered: "God sees that my arrogance remained outside your gate; God sees and will judge, whether in dishonoring my knighthood, you did not dishonor yourself. There is the honor of a nobleman, which every one who has a belt around him, should respect." Danveld wrinkled his brows, but at that moment the castle fool started to rattle the chain to which he had fastened the bear, and called out: "Sermon! sermon! the preacher from Mazowsze has arrived! Listen! to the sermon!" Then turning to Danveld, he said: "Sir! Duke Rosenheim ordered his sexton to eat the bell-rope from knot to knot whenever the latter awakened him too early for the sermon. This preacher has also a rope around his neck--make him also eat it up before he finishes his sermon."