In the meantime he began to question the courtier, who had come to Amylej's for him: "Where are you conducting me?" asked he; "to the castle?"
"Yes, to the castle. Jurand is with the princess' court."
"Tell me, what kind of a man he is, so that I may know how to talk with him!"
"What can I tell you! He is a man entirely different from other men. They say that he was mirthful before his blood became seared in his heart!"
"Is he clever?"
"He is cunning; he robs others but he does not let others rob him. Hej! He has only one eye, because the other was destroyed by the thrust of a German crossbow; but with that one, he can look a man through and through. He loves no one except the princess, our lady; and he loves her because his wife was a lady from her court, and now his daughter is with her."
Zbyszko breathed.
"Then you think that he will not oppose the princess' will?"
"I know what you would like to learn, and therefore I will tell you what I heard. The princess spoke to him about your betrothment, because it would not be proper to conceal it from him; but it is not known what he said in reply."
While thus speaking, they arrived at the gate. The captain of the archers, the same who had conducted Zbyszko to the scaffold, now saluted them. After having passed the guards, they entered the court-yard and turned to the left toward the part of the castle occupied by the princess.
The courtier meeting a servant in the doorway, asked: "Where is Jurand of Spychow?"
"In the 'krzywy[62] room' with his daughter."
"It is there," said the courtier, pointing at the door.
Zbyszko crossed himself, raised the curtain in the doorway, and entered with throbbing heart. But he did not perceive Jurand and Danusia at once, because the room was not only "crooked" but dark also. But after a while he saw the fair head of the girl, who was sitting on her father's lap. They did not hear him when he entered; therefore e stopped near the door, and finally he said: "May He be blessed!"
"For ages and ages," answered Jurand, rising.
At that moment Danusia sprang toward the young knight and having seized him with both hands, began to scream: "Zbyszku! Tatus[63] is here!"
Zbyszko kissed her hands; then he approached Jurand, and said: "I came to bow to you; you know who I am."