"And if they arrive, what will happen then, beloved lady? Mrokota told me that there are special quarters set apart for Jurand; there will be hay enough for bedding for the chilled horses. How then will it be?"
The princess laughed and tapped him lightly on the face with her glove and said: "Be quiet, do you see him?"
And she went toward the prince and was assisted to a chair. One of the attendants placed before the prince a flat dish with thin slices of cake, and wafers, which he was to distribute among the guests, courtiers and servants. Another attendant held before the prince a beautiful boy, the son of the castellan of Sokhochova. On the other side of the table stood Father Wyszoniek who was to pronounce a benediction upon the fragrant supper.
At this moment, a man covered with snow entered and cried: "Most Gracious Prince!"
"What is it?" said the prince. "Is there no reverence; they have interrupted him in his religious ceremonies."
"Some travelers are snowbound on the road to Radzanow, we need people to help us to dig them out."
On hearing this all were seized with fear--the prince was alarmed, and turning toward the castellan of Sokhochova, he commanded: "Horses and spades! Hasten!"
Then he said to the man who brought the news: "Are there many under the snow?"
"I could not tell, it blew terribly; there are a considerable number of horses and wagons."
"Do you not know who they are?"
"People say that they belong to Jurand of Spychow."