Macko thought for a while; then he said as if to himself:
"But they are fond of each other."
"Bah! it is a pity he made a vow to another!"
"That is, as you know, a knightly custom. They consider the one who has no lady, a churl. He also made a vow to capture some peacocks' tufts, and those he must get because he swore by his knightly honor; he must also challenge Lichtenstein; but from the other vows, the abbot can release him."
"The abbot is coming soon."
"Do you expect him?" asked Macko; then he said again: "And what does such a vow amount to; Jurand told him positively that he could not give the girl to him! I do not know whether he had promised her to some one else, or whether he had destined her for God."
"Have I told you that the abbot loves Jagienka as much as if she were his own? The last time I saw him he said: 'I have no relations except those from my mother's side; and they will receive nothing from me.'"
Here Macko looked at Zych suspiciously and after awhile he answered:
"Would you wrong us?"
"Jagienka will get Moczydoly," said Zych evasively.