"Kill me. I shall be glad to die," said Margaret, kneeling before them. "I had only that one wish left, to be able to die for him. I am in God's hand."
"Get away from here!" cried out Kornis; struck down the Szeklers' weapons with his sword and covered the kneeling woman with his long cloak.
"Are you not ashamed of yourselves! Would you kill a woman, you mob more pagan than Tartar! Since you have let Banfy escape, go after him!"
"We will kill her!" "We will put an end to her!" roared the Szeklers, and tried to pull Kornis away.
"You cursed beasts! who is in command here? am I not your captain?"
"Not ours," replied a stiff-necked Szekler. "Our captain is Nicholas Bethlen and he is not here!"
"Go find him. But first one word; if a man stays in this room I'll crush him to pulp!"
This did not humble the Szeklers, however, until some one cried: "Let us go to Bonczida!" The others took up the cry "To Bonczida!" and went off with loud curses and in great disorder.
Caspar Kornis took Madame Banfy at once to a carriage and had her driven to Bethlen castle, which was at that time Beldi's property, hoping that if Banfy knew his wife were imprisoned he would be more manageable.