Pagina 603 di 788

Here the sufferings of the sick man made further speech

impossible and a long hour of silence followed. They were

awaiting the priest. The thunder of hoofs was heard, and the

Tavern-Keeper, out of breath, knocked at the chamber door; he

brought an important letter, which he showed to Jacek. Jacek gave

it to his brother and bade him read it aloud. The letter was from

Fiszer,177 who was then Chief of Staff of the Polish army under

Prince Joseph. It brought the news that in the Privy Council of

the Emperor war had been declared, and that the Emperor was

already proclaiming it over the whole world; that a General Diet

had been convoked in Warsaw, and that the assembled

representatives of Masovia would solemnly decree the union of

Lithuania with the Grand Duchy.