“Charnyetski is coming!” said Volodyovski; and he went out of the room.
The castellan was really returning; Volodyovski went to meet him, and began to call from a distance,—
“The King of Sweden has broken through the Lithuanian army, and escaped from the sack. There is an officer here with letters from the voevoda of Vilna.”
“Bring him here!” cried Charnyetski. “Where is he?”
“With me; I will present him at once.”
Charnyetski took the news so much to heart that he would not wait, but sprang at once from his saddle and entered Volodyovski’s quarters.
All rose when they saw him enter; he barely nodded and said,—
“I ask for the letter!”
Kharlamp gave him a sealed letter. The castellan went to the window, for it was dark in the cottage, and began to read with frowning brow and anxious face. From instant to instant anger gleamed on his countenance.
“The castellan has changed,” whispered Zagloba to Pan Yan; “see how his beak has grown red. He will begin to lisp right away, he always does when in anger.”