Strona 595 z 788

"God knows," said the Warden, "I sincerely wished to hit you! How

much blood did you shed by your one shot! How many disasters have

fallen upon us and upon your family, and all of them through your

guilt alone, Pan Jacek! And yet to-day, when the yagers aimed at

the Count (the last of the Horeszkos, though in the female line),

you preserved him; and when the Muscovites shot at me you threw

me on the ground, so that you have been the saviour of us both.

If it is true that you are a monk, in holy orders, then your

habit shields you from my penknife. Farewell, I will set foot no

more upon your threshold; our account is clear-let us leave the

rest to the Lord."

Jacek stretched out his hand-but Gerwazy started back.

"Without dishonour to my noble blood," he said, "I cannot touch a

hand denied by such a murder, committed for private vengeance,

and not _pro publico bono_."