"You had a quiet journey?"
"I met, in the forest, a large body of peasants, a couple of hundred men whom I destroyed."
"Well done! And you took prisoners, for that is an important thing now?"
"I did, but--"
"But you have commanded them to be executed already? Is that true?"
"No, I set them free."
Yeremi looked with wonderment at Skshetuski; then his brows contracted suddenly. "What was that for? Do you too belong to the peace party?"
"Your Highness, I brought an informant; for among the peasants was a disguised noble who remained alive. I freed the others, for God showed mercy to me and comfort. I will bear the punishment. That noble was Pan Zagloba, who brought me tidings of the princess."
The prince approached Pan Yan quickly. "She is alive and well?"
"Praise be to God on high, she is."