"Honor to you also, sir," answered Powala; "but I would prefer to make your acquaintance under less serious circumstances." "Why?" asked Macko. Powala turned toward Zbyszko. "What have you done, you youngster? You attacked an envoy on the public highway in the king's presence! Do you know the consequences of such an act?" "He attacked the envoy because he was young and stupid; therefore action was easier for him than reflection," said Macko. "But you will not judge him so severely, after I tell you the whole story." "It is not I who will judge him. My business is only to put him in fetters." "How is that?" said Macko, looking gloomy again. "According to the king's command." Silence followed these words. "He is a nobleman," said Macko finally. "Let him swear then upon his knightly honor, that he will appear at the court." "I swear!" exclaimed Zbyszko. "Very well. What do they call you?" Macko mentioned the name and the coat of arms of his nephew. "If you belong to Princess Janusz' court, beg her to intercede for you with the king." "We are not with her court. We are returning from Litwa, from Prince Witold. Better for us if we had never met any court! This misfortune has come from that." Here Macko began to tell about what had happened in the inn; he spoke about the meeting with the princess and about Zbyszko's vow. Then suddenly he was filled with anger against Zbyszko, whose imprudence had caused their present dreadful plight; therefore, turning toward him, he exclaimed: "I would have preferred to see you dead at Wilno! What have you done, you young of a wild boar!" "Well," said Zbyszko, "after the vow, I prayed to the Lord Jesus to give me some Germans; I promised him a present; therefore when I perceived the peacock feathers, and also a mantle embroidered with a cross, immediately some voice cried within me: 'Strike the German! It is a miracle!' Well I rushed forward then; who would not have done it?" "Listen," interrupted Powala, "I do not wish you any evil. I see clearly that this youngster sinned rather from youthful giddiness than from malice. I will be only too glad to ignore his deed and go forward as if nothing had happened. But I cannot do this unless that _comthur_ will promise that he will not complain to the king. Beseech him; perhaps he also will pity the lad." "I prefer to go before the courts, than to bow to a _Krzyzak_!"[30] exclaimed Zbyszko. "It would not be befitting my dignity as a _wlodyka_." Powala of Taczew looked at him severely and said: "You do not act wisely. Old people know better than you, what is right and what is befitting a knight's dignity. People have heard about me; but I tell you, that if I had acted as you have, I would not be ashamed to ask forgiveness for such an offence." Zbyszko felt ashamed; but having glanced around, answered: "The ground is level here. Instead of asking him for forgiveness, I would prefer to fight him on horseback or on foot, till death or slavery."