Fire in the Steppe by Henryk Sienkiewicz, Jeremiah Curtin Read Free Book Online Page B

the lock, and the door opened a little, he thrust himself into it straightway a trifle violently, and said to the confused young monk,—
    "I know that to enter here a special permission is needed; but I have a letter from the archbishop, which you, carissime frater , will be pleased to give the reverend prior."
    "It will be done according to the wish of your grace," said the doorkeeper, inclining at sight of the primate's seal.
    Then he pulled a strap hanging at the tongue of a bell, and pulled twice to call some one, for he himself had no right to go from the door. Another monk appeared at that summons, and taking the letter, departed in silence. Zagloba placed on a bench a package which he had with him, then sat down and began to puff wonderfully. "Brother," said he, at last, "how long have you been in the cloister?"
    "Five years," answered the porter.
    "Is it possible? so young, and five years already! Then it is too late to leave, even if you wanted to do so. You must yearn sometimes for the world; the world smells of war for one man, of feasts for another, of fair heads for a third."
    "Avaunt!" said the monk, making the sign of the cross with devotion.
    "How is that? Has not the temptation to go out of the cloister come on you?" continued Zagloba.
    The monk looked with distrust at the envoy of the archbishop, speaking in such marvellous fashion, and answered, "When the door here closes on any man, he never goes out."
    "We'll see that yet! What is happening to Pan Volodyovski? Is he well?"
    "There is no one here named in that way."
    "Brother Michael?" said Zagloba, on trial. "Former colonel of dragoons, who came here not long since."
    "We call him Brother Yerzy; but he has not made his vows yet, and cannot make them till the end of the term."
    "And surely he will not make them; for you will not believe, brother, what a woman's man he is! You could not find another man so hostile to woman's virtue in all the clois— I meant to say in all the cavalry."
    "It is not proper for me to hear this," said the monk, with increasing astonishment and confusion.
    "Listen, brother; I do not know where you receive visitors, but if it is in this place, I advise you to withdraw a little when Brother Yerzy comes,—as far as that gate, for instance,—for we shall talk here of very worldly matters."
    "I prefer to go away at once," said the monk.
    Meanwhile Pan Michael, or rather Brother Yerzy, appeared; but Zagloba did not recognize the approaching man, for Pan Michael had changed greatly. To begin with, he seemed taller in the long white habit than in the dragoon jacket; secondly, his mustaches, pointing upward toward his eyes formerly, were hanging down now, and he was trying to let out his beard, which formed two little yellow tresses not longer than half a finger; finally, he had grown very thin and meagre, and his eyes had lost their former glitter. He approached slowly, with his hands hidden on his bosom under his habit, and with drooping head.
    Zagloba, not recognizing him, thought that perhaps the prior himself was coming; therefore he rose from the bench and began, "Laudetur—" Suddenly he looked more closely, opened his arms, and cried, "Pan Michael! Pan Michael!"
    Brother Yerzy let himself be seized in the embrace; something like a sob shook his breast, but his eyes remained dry. Zagloba pressed him a long time; at last he began to speak,—
    "You have not been alone in weeping over your misfortune. I wept; Yan and his family wept; the Kmitas wept. It is the will of God! be resigned to it, Michael. May the Merciful Father comfort and reward you! You have done well to shut yourself in for a time in these walls. There is nothing better than prayer and pious meditation in misfortune. Come, let me embrace you again! I can hardly see you through my tears."
    And Zagloba wept with sincerity, moved at the sight of Pan Michael. "Pardon me for disturbing your meditation," said he, at last; "but I could not act otherwise, and you will do