“It must have been the Devil,” he said, looking at Reynevan as Polyphemus must have looked at Odysseus and his companions. “The Devil must have tempted me to go to Ziębice for the tournament on the Birth of the Virgin Mary. The Devil was embroiled in it, without a doubt. But for devilish forces, none of those misfortunes would have happened. I never would have heard of you. Wouldn’t have known you exist. Wouldn’t have to fret over the fact that you exist. Wouldn’t have had to go to such trouble to finally stop you existing.”

He was silent for a time. Reynevan was quiet. He was even breathing quietly.

“Some say,” Biberstein continued, “you defiled my daughter out of revenge, for a grudge you bore against me. The Bishop of Wrocław, gracing the affair with his attention, declares that it was because of Hussite and heretical instigation to maltreat me, a Catholic. Duke Jan of Ziębice claims, however, that you are a degenerate and have a criminal nature. It is also said that you are in league with the Devil and the Devil procures your victims. It is all one to me, frankly speaking, but just out of interest: why did you do it? Answer me when I question you!”

Reynevan suddenly realised he had completely and absolutely forgotten the defence summation he had composed in advance for that circumstance and which was intended to eclipse that of Socrates. He realised that with a feeling closer to horror.

“I do not mean…” He put all his effort into making his voice sound strong. “I do not mean to lie or put on a good front. I take responsibility for… For what happened. For the results… Miss Katarzyna and I… Sir Jan, it is true that I am at fault. But I am not a criminal, I have been slandered in your eyes. What happened between myself and Miss Katarzyna… There was no evil intent. I swear on my mother’s grave, neither evil intent, nor premeditation. It was determined by chance—”

“Chance,” Biberstein repeated slowly. “Let me guess: you’re walking along without evil intent, returning home, let’s suppose, from a tavern. The night is dark, pitch black. In the gloom, by chance, my daughter bumps into you and wallop! Quite by chance, she impales herself on your cock, which by chance is sticking out of your britches. Was it thus? If so, you are absolved in my eyes.”

“I am prepared,” Reynevan took a breath, “to make amends—”

“It is to your credit that you are. For you shall. Today.”

“I’m prepared to wed Miss Katarzyna.”