“General,” said the Prince of Hesse, with energy, “try negotiations again, it is needful to finish at once.”
“But if negotiations lead to nothing, do you, gentlemen, advise to give up the siege?” asked Miller, gloomily.
The officers were silent. After a while Sadovski said,—
“Your worthiness knows best that it will come to that.”
“I know,” answered Miller, haughtily, “and I say this only to you, that I curse the day and the hour in which I came hither, as well as the counsellor who persuaded me to this siege [here he pierced Count Veyhard with his glance]. You know, however, after what has happened, that I shall not withdraw until I turn this cursed fortress into a heap of ruins, or fall myself.”
Displeasure was reflected in the face of the Prince of Hesse. He had never respected Miller over-much; hence he considered this mere military braggadocio ill-timed, in view of the captured trenches, the corpses, and the spiked cannon. He turned to him then and answered with evident sarcasm,—
“General, you are not able to promise that; for you would withdraw in view of the first command of the king, or of Marshal Wittemberg. Sometimes also circumstances are able to command not worse than kings and marshals.”
Miller wrinkled his heavy brows, seeing which Count Veyhard said hurriedly,—
“Meanwhile we will try negotiations. They will yield; it cannot be otherwise.”
The rest of his words were drowned by the rejoicing sound of bells, summoning to early Mass in the church of Yasna Gora. The general with his staff rode away slowly toward Chenstohova; but had not reached headquarters when an officer rushed up on a foaming horse.