Whenshearrived，weheardtoourjoythatallconcernedhaddonetheirworkwell。TheArchbishopwasaboard，andoftheNationalCouncilnotonewasmissing。TheGospodarhurriedthemallintothegreathalloftheCastle，whichhadinthemeantimebeengotready。
I，too，wentwithhim，buttheVoivodinremainedwithout。
Whenallwereseated，heroseandsaid：
\"MyLordArchbishop，Vladika，andLordsoftheCouncilall，Ihavedaredtosummonyouinthiswaybecausetimepresses，andthelifeofoneyoualllove——theVoivodeVissarion——isatstake。ThisaudaciousattemptoftheTurkistheoldaggressionunderanewform。Itisanewandmoredaringstepthanevertotrytocaptureyourchiefandhisdaughter，theVoivodin，whomyoulove。Happily，thelatterpartoftheschemeisfrustrated。TheVoivodinissafeandamongstus。
ButtheVoivodeisheldprisoner——if，indeed，hebestillalive。HemustbesomewherenearIlsin——butwhereexactlyweknownotasyet。