But the Bohemian replied:
"I have told you already, honored sir, that I do not know when it happened, and what I conjecture I cannot confirm with an oath."
"What do you conjecture?"
"I have never left my young master and we slept together. On one evening only, he ordered me to leave him when I saw them all visit him: the princess accompanied by the lady Jurandowna, (Danusia,) Lord de Lorche and Father Wyszoniek. I was even surprised to see the young lady with a wreath on her head; but I thought they had come to administer the sacrament to my master…. It may be that the marriage took place then…. I recollect that the master commanded me to attire myself as for a wedding ceremony, but then I also thought that that was to receive the eucharist."
"And after that, did they remain by themselves?"
"They did not remain alone; and even if they had remained by themselves the master was then so feeble that he could not even eat without assistance. And there were already people sent by Jurand waiting for the young lady, and she left the following morning…."
"Then Zbyszko has not seen her since?"
"No human eye has seen her."
Then silence reigned for a while.
"What do you think?" asked Macko, presently. "Will the Knights of the
Cross give her up, or not?"