"Of a truth," said he, "thus, in old days, did those famous knights act, who, wandering through the world, saved men from cannibals, dragons, and various other vile monsters."
"If any man of them saved such a marvellous princess as this one," added Stanislav, "he was as happy at that time as we are this minute."
"No man ever saved a more wonderful maiden! True, as God is dear to me! He has told the whole truth!" cried the four Bukoyemskis with enthusiasm.
Panna Anulka smiled in so lovely a fashion that two charming dimples appeared in her cheeks, and she dropped her eyelids.
But the compliment seemed over bold to Pan Gideon, for his ward, though an orphan without property, was descended from magnates, hence he changed the conversation.
"But have your graces," asked he, "been moving long on the road in this fashion?"
"Since the great snows fell, and we shall keep on till the frost stops," said Stanislav.
"And have ye killed many wolves?"
"Enough to give overcoats to all of us."
Here the Bukoyemskis laughed as loud as if four horses were neighing, and when they had quieted a little, Mateush, the eldest one added,--