“Your Royal Grace,” said Kmita, “Pan Charnyetski was not the first to break his word, but General Miller, who seized Wolf’s regiment of royal infantry.”
Miller advanced a step, looked in the face of Kmita, and began to whisper something to the king, who, blinking all the time, listened attentively; looking at Pan Andrei, he said at last,—
“I see that Pan Charnyetski has sent me chosen cavaliers. I know from of old that there is no lack of daring men among you; but there is a lack of faith in keeping promises and oaths.”
“Holy are the words of your Royal Grace,” answered Zagloba.
“How do you understand that?”
“If it were not for this vice of our people, your Royal Grace would not be here.”
The king was silent awhile; the generals again frowned at the boldness of the envoys.
“Yan Kazimir himself freed you from the oath,” said Karl, “for he left you and took refuge abroad.”
“From the oath we can be freed only by the Vicar of Christ, who resides in Rome; and he has not freed us.”
“A truce to that!” said the king. “I have acquired the kingdom by this,” here he struck his sword, “and by this I will hold it. I do not need your suffrages nor your oaths. You want war, you will have it. I think that Pan Charnyetski remembers Golembo yet.”