"They say in Warsaw that I drink Polish blood, but I prefer gorailka, leaving the other to the dogs."
The colonels burst into laughter, from which the walls of the room trembled. Such an "appetizer" did the hetman give the commissioners before their dinner; and the commissioners gulped it without a word, in order, as the chamberlain of Lvoff wrote, "not to anger the beast." But perspiration in heavy drops covered the pale forehead of Kisel.
The entertainment commenced. The colonels took pieces of meat from the platters with their hands, the hetman himself placed pieces on the plates of Kisel and Bjozovski; and the first of the dinner passed in silence, for every one was satisfying his hunger. In the silence could be heard only the crunching of bones under the teeth of the company or the gurgling of the drinkers. At times some one threw out a word which remained without echo till Hmelnitski, who had first satisfied himself somewhat, and emptied a number of glasses of millet vudka, turned suddenly to the voevoda, and asked,--
"Who was the leader of your company?"
Disquiet was reflected on Kisel's face. "Skshetuski, an honorable knight."
"I know him," said Hmelnitski; "and why did he not wish to be present when you delivered the gifts to me?"
"He was not associated with us for assistance, but for safety, and he had an order to that effect."
"And who gave him that order?"
"I," answered the voevoda; "for I did not think that it was proper, at the delivery of the gifts, that dragoons should be standing over the necks of you and me."
"I had another opinion, for I know that soldier is stubborn."