“What think you, Bogdan,” he said after a short pause, “shall we succeed?”
“How can your Highness doubt it,” replied the courtier, “the country groans under the harshness of Tomsha. The whole army will surrender when you promise them higher pay. Those boyars who are still left alive are only held back by fear of death, but when they see that your Highness comes with force they will at once flock to you, and desert the other.”
“Please God we shall not be obliged to do what Voda Mircea did in Muntenia; but as I have told you, I know our boyars, for I have lived among them.”
“This matter must be left to your Highness’s sagacity.”
Thus speaking they drew near to Tecuci where they halted by a wood.
“Sire,” said a messenger approaching, “some boyars have arrived, and crave an audience of your Highness.”
“Let them come,” replied Alexandru.
Four boyars soon entered the tent, where he was sitting surrounded by his boyars and officers; two of them were elderly men but the other two were young. They were Vornic Motzoc, Postelnic Veveritza, Spancioc, the noble, and Stroici. They approached Voda Alexandru, and bowed to the ground, but without kissing the hem of his garment as was the custom.
“Welcome, boyars!” said Alexandru, forcing himself to smile.
“Good health to your Highness,” replied the boyars.