id. (To NILS LYKKE.) I pray you wait here, Sir Councillor! I
go to bring him to you.

(Goes out through the Banquet Hall.)

NILS LYKKE (looks after her a while in exultant astonishment).
She is bringing him! Ay, truly--she is bringing him! The battle
is half won. I little thought it would go so smoothly----
She is deep in the counsels of the rebels; she started in terror
when I named Sten Sture's son----
And now? Hm! Since Lady Inger has been simple enough to walk
into the snare, Nils Sture will not make many difficulties. A
hot-blooded boy, thoughtless and rash---- ---- With my promise
of help he will set forth at once--unhappily Jens Bielke will snap
him up by the way--and the whole rising will be nipped in the bud.
And then? Then one step more in our own behalf. It is spread
abroad that the young Count Sture has been at Ostrat,--that a
Danish envoy has had audience of Lady Inger--that thereupon the
young Count Nils has been snapped up by King Gustav's men-at-arms
a mile from the castle---- ---- Let Inger Gyldenlove's name among
the people stand never so high--it will scarce recover from such
a blow.
(Starts up in sudden uneasiness.)
By all the devils----! What if she has scented mischief! It
may be he is slipping through our fingers even now---- (Listens
toward the hall, and says with relief.) Ah, there is no fear.
Here they come.

(LADY INGER GYLDENLOVE enters from the hall along with
OLAF SKAKTAVL.)

LADY INGER (to NILS LYKKE). Here is the man you seek.

NILS LYKKE (aside). In the name of hell--what means this?

LADY INGER. I have told this knight your name and all that you
have imparted to me----

NILS LYKKE (irresolutely). Ay? Have you so? Well----

LADY INGER---- And I will not hide from you that his faith in
your help is none of the strongest.

NILS LYKKE. Is it not?

LADY INGER. Can you marvel at that? You know, surely, both the
cause he fights for and his bitter fate----

NILS LYKKE. This man's----? Ah--yes, truly----

OLAF SKAKTAVL (to NILS LYKKE). But seeing 'tis Peter Kanzler
himself that has appointed us this meeting----

NILS LYKKE. Peter Kanzler----? (Recovers himself quickly.)
Ay, right,--I have a mission from Peter Kanzler----

OLAF SKAKTAVL. He must know best whom he can trust. So why
should I trouble my head with thinking how----

NILS LYKKE. Ay, you are right, noble Sir; that were folly inde