Pan Michael bent to the knees of the king, and said,—
“It was later, in Warsaw, Gracious Lord; also in the castle with the present castellan of Kieff, Pan Charnyetski.”
“But are you serving all the time? Had you no desire to enjoy leisure at home?”
“No; for the Commonwealth was in need, and besides, in these public commotions my property has been lost. I have no place in which to put my head, Gracious Lord; but I am not sorry for myself, thinking that the first duty of a soldier is to the king and the country.”
“Ah, would there were more such! The enemy would not be so rich. God grant the time for rewards will come; but now tell me what you have done with the voevoda of Vilna?”
“The voevoda of Vilna is before the judgment of God. The soul went out of him just as we were going to the final storm.”
“How was that?”
“Here is Pan Sapyeha’s report,” said Volodyovski.
The king took Sapyeha’s letter and began to read; he had barely begun when he stopped.
“Pan Sapyeha is mistaken,” said he, “when he writes that the grand baton of Lithuania is unoccupied; it is not, for I give it to him.”