“Only the slain have saved their honor,” said Sadovski.
Miller began to lose his cool blood. “And that cloister stands there yet, that Yasna Gora, that hen-house! I have not taken it! And we withdraw. Is this a dream, or am I speaking in my senses?”
“That cloister stands there yet, that Yasna Gora!” repeated word for word the Prince of Hesse, “and we shall withdraw,—defeated!”
A moment of silence followed; it seemed as though the leader and his subordinates found a certain wild pleasure in bringing to mind their shame and defeat.
Now Count Veyhard said slowly and emphatically: “It has happened more than once in every war that a besieged fortress has ransomed itself from the besiegers, who then went away as victors; for whoso pays a ransom, by this same recognizes himself as defeated.”
The officers, who at first listened to the words of the speaker with scorn and contempt, now began to listen more attentively.
“Let that cloister pay us any kind of ransom,” continued the count; “then no one will say that we could not take it, but that we did not wish to take it.”
“Will they agree?” asked the Prince of Hesse.
“I will lay down my head,” answered Count Veyhard, “and more than that, my honor as a soldier.”
“Can that be!” asked Sadovski. “We have enough of this siege, but have they enough? What does your worthiness think of this?”