ut to take the sacrament, remember that I am no Lutheran
or schismatic! I know that whoever saddens the last moments of a dying
man, commits sin. I will tell you something that will surely comfort you.
When my late master had fallen wounded, and I was kneeling by him, bending
over his breast; when, wetting my sword in his wound, I vowed vengeance,
my lord shook his head and stretched out his hand towards the door,
towards the place where you were standing, and drew a cross in the air; he
could not speak, but he made a sign that he forgave his murderer. I
understood well, but I was so furious with rage that I have never said
even a word of that cross."

Here the sufferings of the sick man made further speech impossible and a
long hour of silence followed. They were awaiting the priest. The thunder
of hoofs was heard, and the Tavern-Keeper, out of breath, knocked at the
chamber door; he brought an important letter, which he showed to Jacek.
Jacek gave it to his brother and bade him read it aloud. The letter was
from Fiszer,177 who was then Chief of Staff of the Polish army under
Prince Joseph. It brought the news that in the Privy Council of the
Emperor war had been declared, and that the Emperor was already
proclaiming it over the whole world; that a General Diet had been convoked
in Warsaw, and that the assembled representatives of Masovia would
solemnly decree the union of Lithuania with the Grand Duchy.

Jacek, as he listened, repeated prayers in a low voice, and, clasping to
his breast the consecrated candle, raised to Heaven his eyes, now kindled
with hope, and shed a flood of last joyous tears. "Now, O Lord," he said,
"let thy servant depart in peace!" All kneeled; and then a bell rang at
the door, a token that the priest had arrived with the body of our Lord.

Night was just departing, and across the milky sky were streaming the
first rosy beams of the sun: they entered through the window panes like
diamond arrows, and fell upon the bed; they surrounded the head of the
sick man, wreathing with gold his face and his temples, so that he shone
like a saint in a fiery crown.

BOOK XI.--THE YEAR 1812

ARGUMENT

Spring omens--The entrance of the armies--Religious
services--Official rehabilitation of the late Jacek Soplica--From
the talk between Gerwazy and Protazy a speedy ending of the
lawsuit may be inferred--A love affair between an uhlan