11. They See Each Other Again

“Well, then, choose,” said Knich, and he pointed out to him an excavation of the passage which almost made him think of the room filled with clothing, arms, and vestments discovered by the brigand’s wife in the cellar of the château.

Tchetchevik stooped down; from a heap of all sorts of costumes, strange vestments, cowls, uniforms worn or torn, some by bullets, he drew out a great white beard and a strange suit of clothes, which seemed to have belonged to some wandering minstrel. By the side was a théorbe, of an old and rare shape, still well preserved. Nothing was wanting to the disguise; the wig, the mustaches, even the eyebrows were in perfect accord with the beard.

“This is just what I want,” he said gaily. “Now let us look for what will best suit Maroussia.”

“Does Maroussia go with you? ” asked Knich, shaking an old mantle.

At this question, which seemed to make doubtful her duty of following the Envoy everywhere, until the end of his journey was attained, Maroussia’s face, ordinarily so gentle, showed an expression of anger and indignation struggling together.

“What will my father say? What will my mother say? And what will he himself say,” pointing to Tchetchevik, “if I do the half only of my duty?”

“But, do you know, little girl, where he is going? asked Knich. “Do you know that he is going where you may be killed, and that it is not probable that you will return safe and sound?”

“Isn’t it just for this reason that I should

be a coward to leave him,” answered the child, red with shame.

“Ah! brave girl!” Knich cried. “Wait, I must embrace you. May God grant that my Tarass shall resemble you!”

“If Tarass were as old as I am, he would do what I am doing. Isn’t he all the time thinking, the little fellow, of killing all the enemies of Ukraine?”

“It is true, by my faith, it is true!” Knich said. “Already he only thinks of that.”

The Envoy was searching, searching among the costumes. He wished a disguise for Maroussia; nothing pleased him, he rejected everything.

“They are so becoming to her, these pretty clothes which she has on, what a pity that she cannot be allowed to wear them! This is frightful,” he said, “and this more frightful still!”

He examined one by one the poor costumes which were the right size for the little girl, and threw them on one side.