“Whom are the devils bringing?” asked Kuklinovski.
The door squeaked and a soldier entered. “General Miller wishes to see your grace at once!”
“Ah! that is thou, old man?” asked Kuklinovski. “What business? What devil?”
“The general asks your grace to come to him straightway.”
“Who came from the general?”
“There was a Swedish officer; he has ridden off already. He had almost driven the breath out of his horse.”
“I’ll go,” said Kuklinovski. Then he turned to Kmita: “It was hot for thee; cool off now, little worm. I’ll come again soon, we’ll have another talk.”
“What shall be done with the prisoner?” asked one of the soldiers.
“Leave him as he is. I shall return directly. Let one go with me.”
The colonel went out, and with him that soldier who had sat on the beam at first. There remained only three, but soon three new ones entered the barn.