ll of them in love."

I nodded and she went on:

"Meantime your star seems to shine very bright indeed. One might almost
say that the Augusta worshipped it, at least she talks of you to me
continually, and once or twice was in half a mind to send for you to the
Baths. Indeed, had it not been for reasons of State connected with your
prisoners I think she would have done so."

"Ah!" I said, "now I think I begin to feel another sting in the honey."

"Another sting in the honey! Nay, nay, you mean a divine perfume, an
essence of added sweetness, a flavour of the flowers on Mount Ida. Why,
Olaf, if I were your enemy, as I dare say I shall be some day, for often
we learn to hate those whom we have--rather liked, your head and your
shoulders might bid good-bye to each other for such words as those."

"Perhaps, Martina; and if they did I do not know that it would greatly
matter--now."

"Not greatly matter, when you are driving at full gallop along Fortune's
road to Fame's temple with an Empress for your charioteer! Are you
blind or mad, Olaf, or both? And what do you mean by your 'now'? Olaf,
something has happened to you since last we met. Have you fallen in love
with some fair prisoner in this hateful place and been repulsed? Such a
fool as you are might take refusal even from a captive in his own hands.
At least you are different."

"Yes, Martina, something has happened to me. I have become a Christian."

"Oh! Olaf, now I see that you are not a fool, as I thought, but very
clever. Why, only yesterday the Augusta said to me--it was after she had
read that report of yours--that if you were but a Christian she would be
minded to lift you high indeed. But as you remained the most obstinate
of heathens she did not see how it could be done without causing great
trouble."

"Now I wish one could be a Christian within and remain a pagan without,"
I answered grimly; "though alas! that may not be. Martina, do you not
understand that it was for no such reasons as these that I kissed the
Cross; that in so doing I sought not fortune, but to be its servant?"

"By the Saints! you'll be tonsured next, and ill enough it would suit
you," she exclaimed. "Remember, if things grow too--difficult, you can
always be tonsured, Olaf. Only then you will have to give up the hope
of that lady who wears the other half of the necklace somewhere. I
don't mean Irene's sham half, but the real one. Oh! stop blushing and
stammering, I know the story