The sword-bearer drew a deep breath, opened his eyes, half raised himself, and began to look around in the room, as if roused from sleep; then resting his hand on the floor, he tried to rise, which he did after a while with the help of the lady; then he came with tottering step to a chair, into which he threw himself. Only now did Olenka see Panna Kulvyets lying on the sofa.
“Have you murdered her?” asked she of Sakovich.
“God preserve me!” answered the starosta of Oshmiana.
“I command you to unbind her!”
There was such power in that voice that Sakovich said not a word, as if the command had come from Princess Radzivill herself, and began to unbind the unconscious Panna Kulvyets.
“And now,” said the lady, “go to your master, who is lying up there.”
“What has happened?” cried Sakovich, coming to himself. “You will answer for him!”
“Not to thee, serving-man! Be off!”
Sakovich sprang out of the chamber as if possessed.