“What is to be done?” asked the king. “If we send them to Prussia, fifty thousand nobles will follow and cut them to pieces before they reach Pultusk, unless we give them the whole regular army as a guard, and we cannot do that. Hear, your Royal Grace, how the militia are howling! In truth, there is a well-founded animosity against Wittemberg. It is needful first to safeguard his person, and then to send all away when the fire has cooled down.”
“There is no other way!” said Korytsinski.
“But where are they to be kept? We cannot keep them here; for here, devil take it! civil war would break out,” said the voevoda of Rus.
Now Sobiepan Zamoyski appeared, and pouting his lips greatly, said with his customary spirit,—
“Well, Gracious Lord, give them to me at Zamost; let them sit there till calm comes. I will defend Wittemberg there from the nobles. Let them try to get him from me!”
“But on the road will your worthiness defend the field-marshal?” asked the chancellor.
“I can depend on my servants yet. Or have I not infantry and cannon? Let any one take him from Zamoyski! We shall see.”
Here he put his hands on his hips, struck his thighs, and bent from one side of the saddle to the other.
“There is no other way,” said the chancellor.
“I see no other,” added Lantskoronski.