Pagina 644 de 788

"My stake was a horse with its caparison; I also agreed before

the district authorities to deposit my ring as a fee for the

judge; a forfeit once pledged cannot be withdrawn. Let the

Seneschal accept the ring as a reminder of this incident, and let

him have engraved on it either his own name or, if he prefers,

the armorial bearings of the Hreczechas; the carnelian is smooth,

the gold eleven carats fine. The uhlans have now commandeered my

horse for their troop, but the caparison remains in my

possession; every expert praises this caparison, that it is

strong and comfortable, and pretty as a picture. The saddle is

narrow, in the Turko-Cossack style; in front it has a pommel, and

in the pommel are set precious stones; the seat is covered with a

damask pad.