rides with the sharp-shooters; there are likewise two
grenadiers named Dobrzynski in the chasseur regiment."

"Well, but I want to know about their chief," said the General, "about
that Penknife of whom the Seneschal has told me so many marvels, worthy of
one of the giants of old times."

"Penknife," said the Seneschal, "though he did not go into exile,
nevertheless feared the result of an investigation, and hid himself from
the Muscovites; all winter the poor fellow roamed about the forests, and
he has only recently come forth from them. In these times of war he might
have been good for something, for he is a valorous man, only he is
unfortunately a trifle bowed by age. But here he is."

Here the Seneschal pointed towards the vestibule, where servants and
peasants were standing crowded together. Above the heads of all a shining
bald pate showed itself suddenly like the full moon; thrice it emerged and
thrice it vanished in the cloud of heads; the Warden was bowing as he
strode forward, until finally he made his way out of the press, and said:--

"Your Excellency the Hetman of the Crown--or General--never mind which is
the correct title--I am Rembajlo, and I present myself at your summons with
this my penknife, which, not by its setting nor by its inscriptions but by
its temper, has won such fame that even Your Excellency knows of it. If it
knew how to speak, perchance it would say somewhat in praise even of this
old arm, which, thank God, has served long and faithfully the Fatherland
and likewise the family of the Horeszkos: of which fact the memory is
still famous among men. My boy, rarely does a bookkeeper on an estate mend
pens so deftly as this penknife cleaves heads: it were long to count them!
And noses and ears without number! But there is not a single nick upon it,
and no murderous deed has ever stained it, but only open war, or a duel.
Only once!--may the Lord give him eternal rest!--an unarmed man, alas, fell
beneath its edge! But even that, God is my witness, was _pro publico
bono_."

"Show it to me," said General Dombrowski with a laugh. "That is a lovely
penknife, a real headsman's sword!"

He gazed with amazement on the huge blade, and passed it on to the other
officers; all of them tried it, but hardly one of the officers could lift
that blade on high. They said that Dembinski,209 famous for his strength
of arm, could have brandished the broadsword, but he was not there. Of
those present only the s