tter that
has to do with a woman. Olaf, the daggers of her assassins have cut this
thread of fealty. Moreover, as it chances she is in our power, and as we
cannot make our crime against her blacker than it is, we propose to rid
you and ourselves of this Empress, who is our enemy, and who for her
great wickedness well deserves to die. Such is our offer, to take or to
leave, as time is short. Should you refuse it, we abandon you to your
fate, and go to make our terms with Constantine, who also hates this
Empress and even now is plotting her downfall."

As he spoke I saw certain men draw near to Irene for a purpose which I
could guess, and stepped between her and them.

"The Augusta is my mistress," I said, "and although I attacked some of
her troops but now, and she has wronged me much, still I defend her to
the last."

"Little use in that, Olaf, seeing that you are but one and we are many,"
answered Jodd. "Come, will you be Caesar, or will you not?"

Now Irene crept up behind me and whispered in my ear.

"Accept," she said. "It pleases me well. Be Caesar as my husband. So you
will save my life and my throne, of which I vow to you an equal share.
With the help of your Northmen and the legions I command and who cling
to me, we can defeat Constantine and rule the world together. This
petty fray is nothing. What matters it if some lives have been lost in
a palace tumult? The world lies in your grasp; take it, Olaf, and, with
it, _me_."

I heard and understood. Now had come the great moment of my life.
Something told me that on the one hand were majesty and empire; on the
other much pain and sorrow yet with these a certain holy joy and peace.
It was the latter that I chose, as doubtless Fate or God had decreed
that I should do.

"I thank you, Augusta," I said, "but, while I can protect her, I will
not seize a throne over the body of one who has been kind to me, nor
will I buy it at the price you offer. There stands my predestined wife,
and I can marry no other woman."

Now Irene turned to Heliodore, and said in a swift, low voice:

"Do you understand this matter, lady? Let us have done with jealousies
and be plain, for the lives of all of us hang upon threads that, for
some, must break within a day or two, and with them those of a thousand,
thousand others. Aye, the destiny of the world is at stake. You say you
love this man, whom I will tell you I love also. Well, if _you_ win him,
and he lives, which he scarce ca