The Deluge. Vol. 2

"And did Panna Aleksandra judge me thus?"

"She? Even Cicero could not have described properly her previous admiration for your highness. I think that only virtue and a certain inborn timidity stood in the way of love. But when she hears of the sincere intentions of your highness, then I am sure she will at once give the reins to her heart."

"Cicero could not have said that better!" said Boguslav.

"With happiness comes eloquence. But since your highness has been pleased to listen to everything I have said, then I will be sincere to the last."

"Be sincere, Pan Billevich."

"Though this maiden is young, she is a woman with a man's cast of mind altogether; it is wonderful what a character she has. Where more than one man of experience would hesitate, she hesitates not a moment. What is evil she puts on the left, what is good on the right, and goes herself to the right as if it were sweet. When she has once chosen the road, even though there were cannon before her, that is nothing to her! She would not go aside for the cannon. She is like her grandfather and me. Her father was a born soldier, but mild; her mother, from the house of Voynillovich, was also strong-willed."

"I am glad to hear this, Pan Billevich."

"Your highness will not believe how incensed she is against the Swedes, and all enemies of the Commonwealth. If she held any one guilty of treason, she would feel an utter detestation of him, though he were an angel and not a human being. Your highness, – forgive an old man who might be your father in years, if not in dignity, – leave the Swedes; they are worse for the country than Tartars! Move your troops against such sons, and not only I, but she, will follow you to the field. Pardon me, your highness, pardon me. Now I have said what I had on my mind."

Boguslav mastered himself after a moment's silence, and said: "My benefactor, you might have supposed yesterday, but you may not suppose to-day that I wish merely to throw sand in your eyes, when I say that I am on the side of the king and the country. Here under oath to you as a relative I repeat that what I stated touching peace and its conditions was the pure truth. I, too, should prefer to march to the field, for my nature draws me thither; but because I saw that salvation was not in the field, I was forced through simple devotion to seize another method. And I can say that I have accomplished an unheard of thing; for after a last war to conclude a peace of such kind that the conquering power serves the conquered, – of this Mazarin, the most cunning of men, need not be ashamed. Not Panna Aleksandra alone, but I equally with her, bear hatred to the enemy. But what is to be done? How save this country? Not even Hercules against many can conquer. Therefore I thought thus, 'Instead of destroying, which would be easier and more amusing, it is needful to save.' And since I had practised in affairs of this kind with great statesmen, since I am a relative of the elector, and since, by reason of my cousin Yanush, I am well considered by the Swedes, I began negotiations; and what their course was and what the benefit to the Commonwealth was, that you know, – an end of the war, freedom from oppression for your Catholic faith, for churches, for clergy, for the estate of nobles, and for the common people; the assistance of the Swedes in the war against Moscow and the Cossacks; and, God grant, an extension of boundary. And this all on one condition, – that Karl Gustav be king after Yan Kazimir. Whoso has done more for his country in these times, let him stand before my eyes."

"True, a blind man could see that; but it will be very sad for the nobles that a free election will cease."

"And which is more important, – an election or the country?"

"They are the same, your highness; for an election is the main basis of the Commonwealth. And what is the country, if not a collection of laws, privileges, and liberties serving the nobles? A king can be found even in a foreign land."

Anger and disgust flew like lightning over Boguslav's face.

"Karl Gustav," said he, "will sign the pacta conventa, as his predecessors have signed it; and after his death we will elect whom we choose, even that Radzivill who will be born of your niece."

The sword-bearer stood for a while as if dazzled by the thought; at last he raised his hand and cried with great enthusiasm, —

"Consentior (I agree)!"

"I think, too, that you would agree, even if the throne should become hereditary in our family. Such are you all! But that is a later question. Now it is necessary that the stipulations come to reality. You understand, my uncle?"

"As true as life, it is necessary!" repeated Billevich, with deep conviction.

"They must for this reason, – that I am a mediator agreeable to his Swedish Majesty, and do you know for what reasons? Karl Gustav has one sister married to De la Gardie, and another, Princess Bipont, still unmarried; and he wishes to give her to me, so as to be allied to our house and have a party in Lithuania. Hence his favor toward me, to which my uncle, the elector, inclines him."

"How is that?" asked the disquieted sword-bearer.

"I would give all the princesses of Bipont[7 - "Two-bridged" or "of two bridges," from bis and pons.] for your dove, together with the principalities, not only of the two, but of all the bridges in the world. But I may not anger the Swedish beast, therefore I give willing ear to their discussions; but only let them sign the treaty, then we shall see."

"Would they be ready then not to sign if they should discover that you were married?"

"Worthy sword-bearer," said the prince, with seriousness, "you have condemned me of crookedness toward the country; but I, as a true citizen, ask you, have I a right to sacrifice public affairs to my private interests?"

Pan Tomash listened. "What will happen then?"

"Think to yourself what must happen."

"As God is true, I see already that the marriage must be deferred; and the proverb says; 'What is deferred, escapes.'"

"I will not change my heart, for I have fallen in love for life. You must know that for faithfulness I could put to shame the most enduring Penelope."

Billevich was alarmed still more; for he had an entirely opposite opinion touching the prince's constancy, confirmed as it was by Boguslav's general reputation. But the prince added, as if for a finishing stroke, —

"You are right, that no one is sure of his to-morrow. I may fall ill; nay, some kind of sickness is coming on me even now, for yesterday I grew so rigid that Sakovich barely saved me. I may fall in a campaign against Sapyeha; and what delays, what troubles and vexations there will be, could not be written on an ox-hide."

"By the wounds of God, give advice, your highness."

"What advice can I give?" asked the prince. "Though I should be glad myself to have the latch fall as soon as possible."

"Well, let it fall. Marry, and then what will be, will be."

Boguslav sprang to his feet.

"By the holy Gospel! With your wit you should be chancellor of Lithuania. Another man would not have thought out in three days what has come to your mind in a twinkle. That is it! marry, and remain quiet. There is sense in that! As it is, I shall march in two days against Sapyeha, for I must. During that time secret passages to the lady's chamber can be made; and then to the road! That is the head of a statesman! We will let two or three confidants into the secret, and take them as witnesses, so that the marriage may be formal. I will write a contract, secure the jointure, to which I will add a bequest; and let there be silence for the time. My benefactor, I thank you; from my heart, I thank you. Come to my arms, and then go to my beauty. I will wait for her answer, as if on coals. Meanwhile I will send Sakovich for the priest. Be well, father, and, God grant soon, the grandfather of a Radzivill."

When he had said this, he let the astonished noble go from his embrace, and rushed out of the room.

"For God's sake!" said the sword-bearer, recovering himself. "I gave such wise advice that Solomon himself would not be ashamed of it, and I should prefer to do without it. A secret is a secret; but break your head, crush your forehead against a wall, it cannot be otherwise. A blind man can see that! Would that the frost might oppress and kill those Swedes to the last! If it were not for those negotiations, the marriage would take place with ceremony, and all Jmud would come to the wedding. But here a husband must walk to his wife on felt, so as not to make noise. Tfu, to the deuce! The Sitsinskis will not burst so soon. Yet, praise be to God! that bursting will not miss them."

When he had said this, he went to Olenka. Meanwhile the prince was taking further counsel with Sakovich.

"The old man danced on two paws like a bear," said the prince; "but he tormented the life out of me. Uf! but I squeezed him so that I thought that the boots and straw would fly off his feet. And when I called him 'Uncle,' his eyes stuck out, as if a keg of cabbage hash were choking him. Tfu! tfu! wait! I will make you uncle; but I have scores upon scores of such uncles throughout the whole world. Sakovich, I see how she is waiting for me in her room; and she will receive me with her eyes closed and her hands crossed. Wait, I will kiss those eyes for you – Sakovich, you will receive for life the estate of Prudy, beyond Oshmiana. When can Plaska be here?"

"Before evening. I thank your highness for Prudy."

"That is nothing! Before evening? That means any moment. If the ceremony could be performed to-day, even before midnight! Have you the contract ready?"

"I have. I was liberal in the name of your highness. I assigned Birji as the jointure of the lady. The sword-bearer will howl like a dog when it is taken from him afterward."

"He will sit in a dungeon, then he will be quiet."

"Even that will not be needed. As soon as the marriage is invalid, all will be invalid. But did I not tell you that they would agree?"

"He did not make the least difficulty. I am curious to know what she will say. I care nothing about him!"

"Oh, they have fallen each into the arms of the other, are weeping from emotion, are blessing your highness, and are carried away by your kindness and beauty."

"I don't know that they are by my beauty; for in some way I look wretched. I am all the time out of health, and I am afraid that yesterday's numbness will come again."

"No; you will take something warm."

The prince was already before the mirror.

"It is blue under my eyes. And that fool, Fouret, darkened my eyebrows crooked. See if they are not crooked! I'll give orders to thumbscrew him, and make a monkey my body-servant. Why does the old man not come? I should like to go to the lady now, for she will permit me to kiss her before the marriage. How quickly it grows dark to-day! If Plaska flinches, we must put pincers into the fire."

"Plaska will not flinch. He is a scoundrel from under a dark star."