sly, he wants to lead me by the nose. Pray understand
that the Soplicas are not wont to be reconciled; when they summon a man to
court they must win their case. Sometimes a suit has continued in their
name until they won it in the sixth generation. I committed folly enough
by your advice when I convoked for the third time the Chamberlain's court.
From this day on there shall be no compromise, none, none, none!" (As he
shouted these words he walked up and down and stamped both feet.) "Besides
that, he must beg my pardon for his discourteous act of yesterday, or
fight a duel!"

"But, Judge, what will happen if Jacek learns of this? He will certainly
die of despair! Have not the Soplicas done evil enough in this castle?
Brother, I do not wish to mention that terrible event, but you too know
that the Targowica confederates103 took a part of the estate from the
owner of the castle and gave it to the Soplicas. Jacek, repenting his sin,
had to vow, when absolved, to restore those lands. So he took Zosia, the
poor heiress of the Horeszkos, under his care, and he paid a great price
for her bringing up. He wished to win her for his own son Thaddeus, and
thus unite in brotherly affection two hostile houses, and yield without
shame to the heiress what had been plundered from her."

"But what have I to do with all this?" cried the Judge. "I have never been
acquainted with Jacek--have not even seen him; I had scarcely heard of his
riotous life, since I was then studying rhetoric in a Jesuit school, and
later served as page with the Wojewoda. They gave me the estate and I took
it; he told me to receive Zosia, and I received her and cared for her, and
am planning for her future. I am weary enough of all this old wives' tale!
And then why did this Count intrude upon me here? With what right to the
castle? You know, my friend, he's only some sixteenth cousin to the
Horeszkos, the tenth water on the kisiel.104 And he must insult me? and I
invite him to a reconciliation!"

"Brother," said the Monk, "there are weighty reasons for this. You
remember that Jacek wanted to send his son to the army, but later let him
remain in Lithuania: what reason was there for that? Why, at home he will
be more useful to his country. You have surely heard the news of which
every one is talking, and of which I have often brought tidings: now is
the time to tell it all, now is the time! An important matter, my brother!
Now the war is upon us! A war for Poland,