“And such as these raise their hands against the splendors of Yasna Gora!”
“You have touched the spot in speaking of their faith,” said Volodyovski to Zagloba, “for I myself have heard how they howl at the moon. They said afterward that they were singing Lutheran psalms; but it is certain that the dogs sing such psalms.”
“How is that?” asked Kovalski. “Are there such people among them?”
“There is no other kind,” answered Zagloba, with deep conviction.
“And is their king no better?”
“Their king is the worst of all. He began this war of purpose to blaspheme the true faith in the churches.”
Here Kovalski, who had drunk much, rose and said: “If that is true, then as sure as you are looking at me, and as I am Kovalski, I’ll spring straight at the Swedish king in the first battle, and though he stood in the densest throng, that is nothing! My death or his! I’ll reach him with my lance,—hold me a fool, gentlemen, if I do not!”
When he had said this he clinched his fist and was going to thunder on the table. He would have smashed the glasses and decanters, and broken the table; but Zagloba caught him hastily by the arm and said,—
“Sit down, Roh, and give us peace. We will not think you a fool if you do not do this, but know that we will not stop thinking you a fool until you have done it. I do not understand, though, how you can raise a lance on the King of Sweden, when you are not in the hussars.”
“I will join the escort and be enrolled in the squadron of Prince Polubinski; and my father will help me.”