NILS STENSSON. ----As all folk speak. Why should I not? And
besides, I have often enough heard from Peter Kanzler----
(Stops in confusion, and begins eating again.)
NILS LYKKE. You would have said----?
NILS STENSSON (eating). I? Nay, 'tis all one.
(NILS LYKKE laughs.)
NILS STENSSON. Why laugh you, Sir?
NILS LYKKE. 'Tis nought, Sir!
NILS STENSSON (drinks). A pretty vintage ye have in this house.
NILS LYKKE (approaches him confidentially). Listen--were it
not time now to throw off the mask?
NILS STENSSON (smiling). The mask? Why, do as seems best to you.
NILS LYKKE. Then off with all disguise. You are known, Count
Sture!
NILS STENSSON (with a laugh). Count Sture? Do you too take
me for Count Sture?
(Rises from the table.)
You mistake, Sir; I am not Count Sture.
NILS LYKKE. You are not? Then who are you?
NILS STENSSON. My name is Nils Stensson.
NILS LYKKE (looks at him with a smile). Hm! Nils Stensson? But
you are not Sten Sture's son Nils? The name chimes at least.
NILS STENSSON. True enough; but God knows what right I have to
bear it. My father I never knew; my mother was a poor peasant-
woman, that was robbed and murdered in one of the old feuds. Peter
Kanzler chanced to be on the spot; he took me into his care, brought
me up, and taught me the trade of arms. As you know, King Gustav
has been hunting him this many a year; and I have followed him
faithfully, wherever he went.
NILS LYKKE. Peter Kanzler has taught you more than the trade
of arms, meseems---- ---- Well, well; then you are not Nils Sture.
But at least you come from Sweden. Peter Kanzler has sent you
here to find a stranger, who----
NILS STENSSON (nods cunningly). ----Who is found already.
NILS LYKKE (somewhat uncertain). And whom you do not know?
NILS STENSSON. As little as you know me; for I swear to you by
God himself: I am not Count Sture!
NILS LYKKE. In sober earnest, Sir?
NILS STENSSON. As truly as I live! Wherefore should I deny it,
if I were?
NILS LYKKE. Then where is Count Sture?
NILS STENSSON (in a low voice). Ay, _that_ is just the secret.
NILS LYKKE (whispers). Which is known to you, is it not?
NILS STENSSON (nods). And which I have to tell to you.
NILS LYKKE. To me? Well then,--where is he?
(NILS STENSSON points upwards.)
NILS LYKKE. Up there? Lady Inger holds him hidden in the loft-
room?
NILS STENSSON. Nay, nay; you mistake me. (Looks round cautiously.)
Nils Sture is in Heaven!
NILS LYKKE. Dead? And where?
NILS STENSSON. In his mother's castle,--three weeks since.
NILS LYKKE. Ah, you are deceiving me! 'Tis but five or six
days since he crossed the frontier into Norway.
NILS STENSSON. Oh, that was I.
NILS LYKKE. But just before that the Count had appeared in the
Dales. The people were restless already, and on his coming they
broke out openly and would have chosen him for king.
NILS STENSSON. Ha-ha-ha; that was me too!
NILS LYKKE. You?
NILS STENSSON. I will tell you how it came about. One day Peter
Kanzler called me to him and gave me to know that great things were
preparing. He bade me set out for Norway and go to Ostrat, where I
must be on a certain fixed day----
NILS LYKKE (nods). The third night after Martinmas.