Skshetuski, she said: "You have pushed us to the wall
so closely that there is no escape. Bogun is a madman,
ready for anything. Who will save us from his vengeance?
He will perish himself through the prince, but he will de-
stroy us first. What are we to do?"

"That is your affair."

The princess was silent for a time, then said: "Listen to
me. All this must remain a secret. We will send Bogun
to Pereyaslav, and will go ourselves with Helena to Lubni,
and you will ask the prince to send us a guard at Rozlogi.
Bogun has a hundred and fifty Cossacks in the neighbor-
hood; part of them are here. You cannot take Helena
immediately, for he would rescue her. It cannot be ar-
ranged otherwise. Go your way, therefore; tell the secret
to no man, and wait for us."

"But won't you betray me?"

"If we only could; but we cannot, as you see yourself.
Give your word that you will keep the secret."

"If I give it, will you give the girl?"

"Yes, for we are unable not to give her, though we are
sorry for Bogun."

"Pshaw!" said the lieutenanty turning to the princes.

"There are four of you, like oaks, and afraid of one Cos-
sack, and you wish to overcome him by treason! Though
I am obliged to thank you, still I say that it is not the thing
for men of honor."

"Do not interfere in this," cried the princess. "It is
not your affair. What can we do? How many soldiers
have you against his hundred and fifty Cossacks? Will
you protect us? Will you protect Helena herself, whom
he is ready to bear away by force? This is not your affair.
Go your way to Lubni. How we must act is for us to
judge, if we only bring Helena to you."

"Do what you like; but one thing I repeat: If any wrong
comes to Helena, woe to you!"

"Do not treat us in this fashion, you might drive us to
desperation."

"You wished to bend her to your will, and now, when
selling her for Rozlogi, it has never entered your heads to
ask whether my person is pleasing to her."

"We are going to ask her in your presence," said the
princess, suppressing the rage which began to seethe up
again in her breast, for she felt clearly the contempt in
these words of Skshetuski.