“Let it be so,” said Kmita, after a time. “If I do not take her to-day, I will in a month. You will not hide her under the ground! Take the oath!”
“Take the oath!” repeated Volodyovski.
“We swear by the Most High God and the Holy Cross. Amen!”
“Well, come out, come out!” cried Volodyovski.
“You are in a hurry to the other world?”
“No matter, no matter, only come out quickly.”
The iron bars holding the door on the inside began to groan.
Volodyovski pushed back, and with him the nobles, to make room. Soon the door opened, and in it appeared Pan Andrei, tall, straight as a poplar. The dawn was already coming, and the first pale light of day fell on his daring, knightly, and youthful face. He stopped in the door, looked boldly on the crowd of nobles, and said,—
“I have trusted in you. God knows whether I have done well, but let that go. Who here is Pan Volodyovski?”
The little colonel stepped forward. “I am!” answered he.