). Trust me--you will never repent of this.

LADY INGER (half to herself). God grant that you speak the truth!

(NILS STENSSON goes out hastily by the furthest door on the
left. OLAF SKAKTAVL is following; but LADY INGER detains
him.)

LADY INGER. Did you understand his meaning?

OLAF SKAKTAVL. The dastard! He would betray your secret. He
would sacrifice your son to save himself.

LADY INGER. When life is at stake, he said, we must try the
last resource.--It is well, Olaf Skaktavl,--let it be as he has
said!

OLAF SKAKTAVL. What mean you?

LADY INGER. Life for life! One of them must perish.

OLAF SKAKTAVL. Ah--you would----?

LADY INGER. If we close not the lips of him that is within ere
he come to speech with the Swedish captain, then is my son lost
to me. But if he be swept from my path, when the time comes I can
claim all his rights for my own child. Then shall you see that
Inger Ottisdaughter has metal in her yet. And be assured you
shall not have long to wait for the vengeance you have thirsted
after for twenty years.--Hark! They are coming up the stairs!
Olaf Skaktavl,--it lies with you whether to-morrow I shall be a
childless woman, or----

OLAF SKAKTAVL. So be it! I have one sound hand left yet.
(Gives her his hand.) Inger Gyldenlove--your name shall not
die out through me.

(Follows NILS STENSSON into the inner room.)

LADY INGER (pale and trembling). But dare I----?
(A noise is heard in the room; she rushes with a scream towards
the door.)
No, no,--it must not be!
(A heavy fall is heard within; she covers her ears with her
hands and hurries back across the hall with a wild look.
After a pause she takes her hands cautiously away, listens
again and says softly:)
Now it is over. All is still within----
Thou sawest it, God--I repented me! But Olaf Skaktavl was too
swift of hand.

(OLAF SKAKTAVL comes silently into the hall.)

LADY INGER (after a pause, without looking at him). Is it done?

OLAF SKAKTAVL. You need fear him no more; he will betray no one.

LADY INGER (as before). Then he is dumb?

OLAF SKAKTAVL. Six inches of steel in his breast. I felled him
with my left hand.

LADY INGER. Ay--the right was too good for such work.

OLAF SKAKTAVL. That is your affair;--the thought was yours.--
And now to Sweden! Peace be with you meanwhile! When next we
meet at Ostr