"He left for Malborg and sent me here with news."
"And why did he go to Malborg?"
"To fetch his wife."
"Be careful, boy, in the name of God what wife did he go for?"
"For Jurand's daughter. There is much to be told about it, enough for a whole night, but, honored sir, allow me to rest a little, for I have been constantly traveling since midnight."
Macko ceased questioning for a little while, for his great surprise deprived him of speech. When he had somewhat recovered, he shouted to the servant to throw some wood on the fire and bring food for the Bohemian; then he began to pace up and down, gesticulating and talking to himself:
"I cannot believe mine own ears…. Jurand's daughter…. Zbyszko married…."
"He is married and not married," said the Bohemian.
Then he began slowly to relate what had happened, while Macko listened eagerly, only interrupting with questions when what the Bohemian related was not quite clear to him. For instance, Glowacz could not give the exact time when Zbyszko had got married, as there had been no public marriage. Nevertheless he affirmed that that marriage had surely taken place, and that it had come to pass owing to the instigation of Princess Anna Danuta, and had been made public only after the arrival of the Knight of the Cross, Rotgier, when Zbyszko had challenged him to the judgment of God, in the presence of the entire Mazovian court.
"Ah! He fought?" Macko exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with intense curiosity. "What followed?"