"Since you make the inquiry--"
"But we first, and according to seniority," said the Bukoyemskis. "We will not withdraw from that. We have settled it, and will cut down any man who interferes with us."
Yatsek looked quickly at the brothers, and in one moment divined, as he thought, the arrangement, and he paled somewhat.
"So that is it!" said he again to Stanislav; "thou hast hirelings, and art standing behind them. By my faith the method seems certain, and very safe, but whether it is noble and knightly is another point. In what a company do I find myself?"
On hearing this opinion which disgraced him, Stanislav, though he had a mild spirit by nature, felt the blood rush to his visage. The veins swelled on his forehead, lightning flashed from his eyes, his teeth were gritting terribly, and he grasped the hilt of his sabre.
"Come out! Come out this instant!" cried he in a voice choked with anger.
Sabres flashed; it was bright in the chamber, for light fell on the steel blades from a torch in the chimney. But three of the Bukoyemskis sprang between the opponents and stood in a line there, the fourth caught Stanislav by the shoulders.
"By the dear God, restrain thyself, Stashko! We are ahead of thee!"
"We are ahead of thee!" cried the three others.
"Unhand me!" screamed Stanislav, hoarsely.