“I could not repay you in a lifetime for Basia!” cried the little knight.
Then they took each other by the shoulders, and the best harmony began between them.
“I have planned,” said the little knight, “that when war comes, you will take Basia to Pan Yan’s place. Chambuls do not go that far.”
“I will do so for you, though it would delight me to go against the Turk; for nothing disgusts me like that swinish nation which does not drink wine.”
“I fear only one thing: Basia will try to be at Kamenyets, so as to be near me. My skin creeps at thought of this; but as God is God she will try.”
“Do not let her try. Has little evil come already, because you indulge her in everything, and let her go on that expedition to Rashkoff, though I cried out against it immediately?”
“But that is not true! You said that you would not advise.”
“When I say that I will not advise a thing, that is worse than if I had spoken against it.”
“Basia ought to be wise now, but she will not. When she sees the sword over my head she will resist.”
“Do not let her resist, I repeat. For God’s sake, what sort of a straw husband are you?”