"We have patiently borne your burdensome presence until now," said the Krzyżak. "But our Grand Master knows how to dispense justice."
"And what is that to the Grand Master and to you from Masovia?"
"Behind the Grand Master stand the Germans and the Roman Emperor."
"And behind me stands the Polish King, to whom more lands and nations are subject."
"Does Your Princely Highness want war with the Order?"
"If I wanted war, I would not have waited for you in Masovia, but would have come to you. But do not threaten me, for I am not afraid."
"What am I to report to the Grand Master?"
"Your Grand Master asked nothing. Tell him what you wish."
"Then we will impose punishment and vengeance ourselves."
At that, the prince extended his arm and began to wag his finger threateningly right before the Krzyżak's face.
"Beware!" he said in a voice choked with anger. "Beware! I allowed you to challenge Jurand, but if you invade my land with a warrior of the Order, then I will strike you—and you will sit here as a prisoner, not a guest."
Evidently his patience was exhausted, for he threw his cap onto the table with all his might and left the room, slamming the door. The Krzyżacy went pale with fury, and Mr. de Fourcy stared at them like a madman.
"What will happen now?" asked Brother Rotgier first.
And Hugo de Danveld practically lunged at Mr. de Fourcy with his fists.
"Why did you say that you were the first to attack Jurand?"
"Because it's true!"
"You should have lied."
"I came here to fight, not to lie."
"You fought well—not a word!"
"And didn't you flee before Jurand to Szczytno?"
"Pax!" said de Löwe. "This knight is a guest of the Order."
"And it doesn't matter what he said," interjected Brother Gotfryd. "They wouldn't punish Jurand without a trial, and at the trial the matter would have to come to light."
"What will happen now?" repeated Brother Rotgier.
There was a moment of silence, then Siegfried de Löwe spoke, harsh and relentless.
"We must finish with that bloody dog once and for all!" he said. "de Bergow must be freed from his chains. We'll bring in the garrisons from Szczytno, Innsbruck, and Lubow, summon the Chełmno nobility, and strike at Jurand... It's time to finish him!"
But the cunning Danveld, who knew how to consider every matter from both sides, clasped his hands behind his head, frowned, and after a moment's thought said:
"Without the Grand Master's permission, it's impossible..."
"If it succeeds, the Grand Master will approve!" said Brother Gotfryd.
"And if it doesn't succeed? What if the prince moves his lancers and strikes at us?"
"There is peace between him and the Order: he won't strike!"
"Bah! There is peace, but we will be the first to break it. Our garrisons are not enough against the Masurians."
"Then the Grand Master will defend us, and there will be war."
Danveld frowned again and fell into thought.
"No! No!" he said after a moment. "If it succeeds, the Grand Master will be secretly pleased... Envoys will go to the prince, there will be negotiations, and we'll escape unpunished. But in case of defeat, the Order will not defend us and will not declare war on the prince... It would take a different Grand Master for that... Behind the prince stands the Polish King, and the Grand Master won't pick a fight with him..."
"Nevertheless, we took the Dobrzyń Land—so clearly we are not afraid of Krakow."
"Because there were appearances... Opolczyk... We took it as a pledge, as it were, and even that..."
Here he looked around and added in a lowered voice:
"I heard in Malbork that if they threatened war, we would return it as long as the pledge was returned to us."
"Ah!" said Brother Rotgier. "If only Markward Salzbach were here among us, or Szomberg, who strangled Witold's pups—they would find a way to deal with Jurand. What of Witold! Viceroy of the Jagiellons! A Grand Duke, and yet Szomberg got away with it... He strangled Witold's children—and nothing happened to him!... Truly, we lack men among us who can find a way for everything."
Upon hearing this, Hugo de Danveld propped his elbows on the table, rested his head on his hands, and sank into thought for a long time. Suddenly his eyes brightened; he wiped his moist, thick lips with the back of his hand, as was his custom, and said:
"Blessed be the moment in which you mentioned, pious brother, the name of the valiant Brother Szomberg."
"Why is that? Have you thought of something?" asked Siegfried de Löwe.
"Speak quickly!" cried Brothers Rotgier and Gotfryd.
"Listen," said Hugo. "Jurand has a daughter here, his only child, whom he loves as the apple of his eye."
"He does! We know her. Princess Anna Danuta also loves her."
"Yes. So listen: if you were to abduct this girl, Jurand would give up not only de Bergow for her, but all the prisoners, himself, and Spychów as well!"
"By the blood of Saint Boniface, shed in Dochum!" cried Brother Gotfryd. "It would be just as you say!"
Then they fell silent, as if frightened by the audacity and difficulty of the undertaking.
Only after a moment did Brother Rotgier turn to Siegfried de Löwe:
"Your wisdom and experience," he said, "are equal to your courage: what do you think of this?"
"I think the matter is worth considering."
"For," continued Rotgier, "the girl is the princess's attendant—indeed, more than that, almost a beloved daughter. Think, pious brothers, what an uproar it will cause."
And Hugo de Danveld began to laugh:
"You said yourselves," he said, "that Szomberg poisoned or strangled Witold's pups—and what happened to him for it? They raise a racket over any excuse, but if we sent the Grand Master Jurand in chains, we would surely receive a reward rather than punishment."
"Yes," said de Löwe, "the opportunity for invasion exists. The prince is leaving; Princess Anna remains here only with her court ladies. However, an invasion of the ducal court in peacetime is no small matter. The ducal court is not Spychów. It will be like Zlotoryja again! Complaints will go to all the kingdoms and to the Pope about the Order's violence; the accursed Jagiello will threaten again, and the Grand Master—you know him: he's glad to grab whatever he can, but he doesn't want war with Jagiello... Yes! An outcry will rise in all the lands of Masovia and Poland."
"Meanwhile, Jurand's bones will whiten on a hook," replied Brother Hugo. "And who, after all, says that you must abduct her here, from the manor, from under the princess's side?"
"Certainly not from Ciechanow, where besides the nobility there are three hundred archers."
"No. But can't Jurand fall ill and send men for the girl? The princess won't forbid her to go then, and if the girl disappears on the road, who will tell you or me: 'You abducted her!'"
"Bah!" replied de Löwe impatiently. "Arrange it so that Jurand falls ill and summons the girl..."
At that, Hugo smiled triumphantly and replied:
"I have a goldsmith in my service who was driven out of Malbork for thievery, settled in Szczytno, and can cut any seal; I also have men who, though our subjects, are of Masurian origin... Do you still not understand me?..."
"I understand!" cried Brother Gotfryd with enthusiasm.
And Rotgier raised his hands and said:
"May God give you success, pious brother, for neither Markward Salzbach nor Szomberg could have found a better way."
Then he narrowed his eyes, as if trying to see something in the distance:
"I see Jurand," he said, "standing with a rope around his neck at the Gdańsk Gate in Malbork, and our men kicking him with their boots..."
"And the girl will become a servant of the Order," added Hugo.
Hearing this, de Löwe turned his stern eyes on Danveld, who again struck his lips with the back of his hand and said:
"And now, to Szczytno as quickly as possible!"