Pan Michael

Then they embraced at once, and Basia said, "But now let us talk of Azya and poor Eva, of how we are to help them. We are happy; let them be happy."

"When Novoveski goes away, it will be easier for them," said the little knight; "for in his presence they could not see each other, especially as Azya hates the old man. But if the old man were to give him Eva, maybe, forgetting former offences, they would begin to love each other as son-in-law and father-in-law. According to my head, it is not a question of bringing the young people together, for they love each other already, but of bringing over the old man."

"He is a misanthrope!" said Basia.

"Baska," said Zagloba, "imagine to yourself that you had a daughter, and that you had to give her to some Tartar--"

"Azya is a prince."

"I do not deny that Tugai Bey comes of high blood. Ketling was a n.o.ble; still Krysia would not have married him if he had not been naturalized."

"Then try to obtain naturalization for Azya."

"Is that an easy thing? Though some one were to admit him to his escutcheon, the Diet would have to confirm the choice; and for that, time and protection are necessary."

"I do not like this,--that time is needed,--for we could find protection. Surely the hetman would not refuse it to Azya, for he loves soldiers. Michael, write to the hetman. Do you want ink, pen, paper?

Write at once! I'll bring you everything, and a taper and the seal; and you will sit down and write without delay."

"O Almighty G.o.d!" cried he, "I asked a sedate, sober wife of Thee, and Thou didst give me a whirlwind!"

"Talk that way, talk; then I'll die."

"Ah, your impatience!" cried the little knight, with animation,--"your impatience, tfu! tfu! a charm for a dog!" Here he turned to Zagloba: "Do you not know the words of a charm?"

"I know them, and I've told them," said Zagloba.

"Write!" cried Basia, "or I shall jump out of my skin."

"I would write twelve letters, to please you, though I know not what good that would be, for in this case the hetman himself can do nothing; even with protection, Azya can appear only at the right time. My Basia, Panna Novoveski has revealed her secret to you,--very well! But you have not spoken to Azya, and you do not know to this moment whether he is burning with love for Eva or not."

"He not burning! Why shouldn't he be burning, when he kissed her in the storehouse? Aha!"

"Golden soul!" said Zagloba, smiling. "That is like the talk of a newly born infant, except that you turn your tongue better. My love, if Michael and I had to marry all the women whom we happened to kiss, we should have to join the Mohammedan faith at once, and I should be Sultan of Turkey, and he Khan of the Crimea. How is that, Michael, hei?"

"I suspected Michael before I was his," said Basia; and thrusting her finger up to his eye, she began to tease him. "Move your mustaches; move them! Do not deny! I know, I know, and you know--at Ketling's."

The little knight really moved his mustaches to give himself courage, and at the same time to cover his confusion; at last, wis.h.i.+ng to

"Wait; I will talk to him alone and ask him. But he is in love, he must be in love! Otherwise I don't want to know him."

"In G.o.d's name! she is ready to talk him into it," said Zagloba.

"And I will persuade him, even if I had to shut myself in with him daily."

"Inquire of him, to begin with," said the little knight. "Maybe at first he will not confess, for he is shy; that is nothing. You will gain his confidence gradually; you'll know him better; you'll understand him, and then only can you decide what to do." Here the little knight turned to Zagloba: "She seems giddy, but she is quick."

"Kids are quick," said Zagloba, seriously.

Further conversation was interrupted by Pan Bogush, who rushed in like a bomb, and had barely kissed Basia's hands when he exclaimed, "May the bullets strike that Azya! I could not close my eyes the whole night.

May the woods cover him!"

"What did Pan Azya bring against your grace?" asked Basia.

"Do you know what we were making yesterday?" And Pan Bogush, staring, began to look around on those present.

"What?"

"History! As G.o.d is dear to me, I do not lie."

"What history?"

"The history of the Commonwealth; that is, simply a great man. Pan Sobieski himself will be astonished when I lay Azya's ideas before him.

A great man, I repeat to you; and I regret that I cannot tell you more, for I am sure that you would be as much astonished as I. I can only say that if what he has in view succeeds, G.o.d knows what he will be."

"For example," asked Zagloba, "will he be hetman?"

Pan Bogush put his hands on his hips: "That is it,--he will be hetman.

I am sorry that I cannot tell you more. He will be hetman, and that's enough."

"Perhaps a dog hetman, or he will go with bullocks. Chabans have their hetmans also. Tfu! what is this that your grace is saying. Pan Under-Stolnik? That he is the son of Tugai Bey is true; but if he is to become hetman, what am I to become, or what will Pan Michael become, or your grace? Shall we become three kings at the birth of Christ, waiting for the abdication of Caspar, Melchior, and Baltazar? The n.o.bles at least created me commander; I resigned the office, however, out of friends.h.i.+p for Pavel,[19] but, as G.o.d lives, I don't understand your prediction."

"But I tell you that Azya is a great man."

"I said so," exclaimed Basia, turning toward the door, through which other guests at the stanitsa began to enter.

First came Pani Boski with the blue-eyed Zosia, and Pan Novoveski with Eva, who, after a night of bad sleep, looked more charming than usual.

She had slept badly, for strange dreams had disturbed her; she dreamed of Azya, only he was more beautiful and insistent than of old. The blood rushed to her face at thought of this dream, for she imagined that every one would guess it in her eyes. But no one noticed her, since all had begun to say "good-day" to Pani Volodyovski. Then Pan Bogush resumed his narrative touching Azya's greatness and destiny; and Basia was glad that Eva and Pan Novoveski must listen to it. In fact, the old n.o.ble had blown off his anger since his first meeting with the Tartar, and was notably calmer. He spoke of him no longer as his man.

To tell the truth, the discovery that he was a Tartar prince and a son of Tugai Bey imposed upon him beyond measure. He heard with wonder of Azya's uncommon bravery, and how the hetman had intrusted such an important function to him as that of bringing back to the service of the Commonwealth all the Lithuanian and Podolian Tartars. At times it seemed even to Pan Novoveski that they were talking of some one else besides Azya, to such a degree had the young Tartar become uncommon.

But Pan Bogush repeated every little while, with a very mysterious mien, "This is nothing in comparison with what is waiting for him; but I am not free to speak of it." And when the others shook their heads with doubt, he cried, "There are two great men in the Commonwealth,--Pan Sobieski and that Azya, son of Tugai Bey."

"By the dear G.o.d," said Pan Novoveski, made impatient at last, "prince or not prince, what can he be in this Commonwealth, unless he is a n.o.ble? He is not naturalized yet."

"The hetman will get him ten naturalizations!" cried Basia.

Eva listened to these praises with closed eyes and a beating heart. It is difficult to say whether it would have beaten so feverishly for a poor and unknown Azya as for Azya the knight and man of great future.

But that glitter captivated her; and the old remembrance of the kisses and the fresh dream went through her with a quiver of delight.

"So great and so celebrated," said Eva. "What wonder if he is as quick as fire!"

CHAPTER x.x.xI.

Basia took the Tartar that very day to "an examination," following the advice of her husband; and fearing the shyness of Azya, she resolved not to insist too much at once. Still, he had barely appeared before her when she said, straight from the bridge,--

"Pan Bogush says that you are a great man; but I think that the greatest man cannot avoid love."