Zbyszko, having heard these words, became very pale and involuntarily glanced at the king, whose anger was terrible. Jasko of Tenczyn was surprised, and said:
"Ask the Pan of Taczew, who was a witness of the incident."
"All eyes turned toward Powala, who stood for a while gloomy, and with lowered eyelids; then he said:
Hearing this the knights began to shout: "Shame! Shame! The earth will devour such a man!" Because of this disgrace some of them began to strike their chests with their hands, and others to rap the silver dishes, not knowing what to do.
"Why did you not kill him?" shouted the king.
"Because his head belongs to the court," answered Powala.
"Have you put him in prison?" asked the castellan, Topor of Tenczyn.
"No. He is a _wlodyka_, who swore on his knightly honor, that he would appear."
"But he will not appear!" ironically exclaimed Kuno, raising his head.
At that moment a young voice resounded behind the Krzyzak:
After these words the knights rushed toward the unhappy Zbyszko; but they were stopped by a threatening nod from the king who began to shout in an angry voice, similar to the rattling of a carriage rolling over the stones:
"Cut his head off! Cut his head off! Let the Krzyzak send it to Malborg to the grand master!"
Then he cried to the young Lithuanian prince standing near.
The frightened Jamont put his trembling hands on Zbyszko's shoulders.
But the white-bearded castellan of Krakow, Topor of Tenczyn, raised his hand as a sign that he wished to speak; when everybody was quiet, he said:
"Gracious king! Let this _comthur_ be convinced that not only your impetuous anger, but our laws will punish with death any who insult an envoy. Otherwise he will think that there are no Christian laws in this country. To-morrow I will judge the offender."
The last words he said quietly and as though no one could change his decision. Then he said to Jamont:
"Shut him in the tower. As for you, Pan of Taczew, you will be a witness."
"I will tell about the offence of this lad," answered Powala, looking at Lichtenstein.
"He is right!" immediately said some knights. "He is only a lad! Why should the shame be put on us all!"
There was a moment of silence, and angry looks were cast at the Krzyzak. In the meanwhile Jamont conducted Zbyszko to the court-yard of the castle and intrusted him to the archers. In his young heart he pitied the prisoner, and this pity was increased by his natural hatred of the Germans. But he was a Lithuanian, accustomed to fulfill blindly the orders of the grand duke; being himself afraid of the king's wrath, he began to whisper to the young knight, with kindly persuasion: