“I have gold pieces buried in the woods,” said the Cossack,—“two purses.”
“From robbery?”
“From robbery.”
“Even if thou hadst a pot of gold, thou art a peasant and Pakosh is a noble.”
“I am an attendant boyar.”
“If thou art an attendant boyar, thou art worse than a peasant, for thou’rt a traitor. How couldst thou serve the enemy?”
“I did not serve the enemy.”
“And where did Pan Kmita find thee and thy comrades?”
“On the road. I served with the full hetman; but the squadron went to pieces, for we had nothing to eat. I had no reason to go home, for my house was burned. Others went to rob on the road, and I went with them.”
Volodyovski wondered greatly, for hitherto he had thought that Kmita had attacked Olenka with forces obtained from the enemy.