"But we have taken the Dobrzynska province; it is evident that we are not afraid of Krakow."
"There was some pretext--Opolczyk. We took it apparently in pledge, and then----" Here he looked around and said quietly: "I heard in Marienburg, that if they threaten us with war, we will return the province."
"Ah!" said Brother Rotgier, "if we had Markward Salzbach with us, or Shomberg who killed Witold's whelps, he would find some remedy against Jurand. Witold was the king's viceroy and a grand duke! Notwithstanding that, Shomberg was not punished. He killed Witold's children, and went scot-free! Verily, there is great lack among us of people who can find a remedy for everything."
Having heard this, Hugo von Danveld put his elbows on the table, leaned his head on his hands and plunged into deep thought. Then his eyes became bright, he wiped, according to his custom, his moist, thick lips with the upper part of his hand and said: "May the moment in which you mentioned, pious brother, the name of the valiant Shomberg be blessed."
"Why? Have you found a remedy?" asked Zygfried von Löve.
"Speak quickly!" exclaimed Brother Godfried.
"Listen," said Hugo. "Jurand has a daughter here, his only child, whom he loves dearly."
"Yes, so he has. We know her. The princess Anna Danuta loves her also."
"Yes. Listen then: if you capture this girl, Jurand will give as a ransom for her, not only, Bergow, but all his prisoners, himself and Spychow!"
"By Saint Bonifacius' blood shed in Duchum!" exclaimed Brother Godfried; "it would be as you say!"
Then they were silent, as if frightened by the boldness and the difficulties of the enterprise. But after a while Brother Rotgier turned toward Zygfried von Löve, and said: "Your judgment and experience are equal to your bravery: what do you think about this plan?"
"I think that the matter is worthy of consideration."
"Because," said Rotgier further, "the girl is a lady-in-waiting with the princess--the princess loves her as if she were her own daughter. Think, pious brother, what an uproar will arise."
But Hugo von Danveld began to laugh: "You said yourself, that Shomberg poisoned or strangled Witold's whelps, and what happened to him? They will raise an uproar about anything we do; but if we sent Jurand in chains to the grand master, then it is certain that we could expect reward rather than punishment."