(The Banquet Hall, as before, but without the supper-table.)
(BIORN, the major-domo, enters carrying a lighted branch-candlestick,
and lighting in LADY INGER and OLAF SKAKTAVL by the second door,
on the left. LADY INGER has a bundle of papers in her hand.)
LADY INGER (to BIORN). And you are sure my daughter spoke with
the knight, here in the hall?
BIORN (putting down the branch-candlestick on the table on the
left). Sure as may be. I met her even as she stepped into the
passage.
LADY INGER. And she seemed greatly moved? Said you not so?
BIORN. She looked all pale and disturbed. I asked if she were
sick; she answered not, but said: "Go to mother and tell her the
knight sets forth ere daybreak; if she have letters or messages
for him, beg her not to delay him needlessly." And then she added
somewhat that I heard not rightly.
LADY INGER. Did you not hear it at all?
BIORN. It sounded to me as though she said:--"I almost fear he
has already stayed too long at Ostrat."
LADY INGER. And the knight? Where is he?
BIORN. In his chamber belike, in the gate-wing.
LADY INGER. It is well. What I have to send by him is ready.
Go to him and say I await him here in the hall.
(BIORN goes out to the right.)
OLAF SKAKTAVL. Know you, Lady Inger,--'tis true that in such
things I am blind as a mole; yet seems it to me as though--hm!
LADY INGER. Well?
OLAF SKAKTAVL. ----As though Nils Lykke loved your daughter.
LADY INGER. Then it seems you are not so blind after all; I am
the more deceived if you be not right. Marked you not at supper
how eagerly he listened to the least word I let fall concerning
Elina?
OLAF SKAKTAVL. He forgot both food and drink.
LADY INGER. And our secret business as well.
OLAF SKAKTAVL. Ay, and what is more--the papers from Peter Kanzler.
LADY INGER. And from all this you conclude----?
OLAF SKAKTAVL. From all this I chiefly conclude that, as you know
Nils Lykke and the name he bears, especially as concerns women----
LADY INGER. ----I should be right glad to know him outside my
gates?
OLAF SKAKTAVL. Ay; and that as soon as may be.
LADY INGER (smiling). Nay--the case is just the contrary, Olaf
Skaktavl!
OLAF SKAKTAVL. How mean you?
LADY INGER. If things be as we both think, Nils Lykke must in
nowise depart from Ostrat yet awhile.
OLAF SKAKTAVL (looks at her with disapproval). Are you beginning
on crooked courses again, Lady Inger? What scheme have you now in
your mind? Something that may increase your own power at the cost
of our----
LADY INGER. Oh this blindness, that makes you all unjust to me!
I see well you think I purpose to make Nils Lykke my daughter's
husband. Were such a thought in my mind, why had I refused to take
part in what is afoot in Sweden, when Nils Lykke and all the Danish
crew seem willing to support it?
OLAF SKAKTAVL. Then if it be not your wish to win him and bind
him to you--what would you with him?
LADY INGER. I will tell you in few words. In a letter to me,
Nils Lykke has spoken of the high fortune it were to be allied to
our house; and I do not say but, for a moment, I let myself think
of the matter.
OLAF SKAKTAVL. Ay, see you!
LADY INGER. To wed Nils Lykke to one of my house were doubtless
a great step toward reconciling many jarring forces in our land.
OLAF SKAKTAVL. Meseems your daughter Merete's marriage with
Vinzents Lunge might have taught you the cost of such a step as
this. Scarce had my lord gained a firm footing in our midst, when
he began to make free with both our goods and our rights----
LADY INGER. I know it even too well, Olaf Skaktavl! But times
there be when my thoughts are manifold and strange. I cannot impart
them fully either to you or to any one else. Often I know not what
were best for me. And yet--a second time to choose a Danish lord
for a son-in-law,--nought but the uttermost need could drive me
to that resource; and heaven be praised--things have not yet come
to that!
OLAF SKAKTAVL. I am no wiser than before, Lady Inger;--why would
you keep Nils Lykke at Ostrat?
LADY INGER (softly). Because I owe him an undying hate. Nils
Lykke has done me deadlier wrong than any other man. I cannot
tell you wherein it lies; but I shall never rest till I am avenged
on him. See you not now? Say that Nils Lykke were to love my
daughter--as meseems were like enough. I will persuade him to
remain here; he shall learn to know Elina well. She is both fair
and wise.--Ah if he should one day come before me, with hot love
in his heart, to beg for her hand! Then--to chase him away like
a hound; to drive him off with jibes and scorn; to make it known
over all the land that Nils Lykke had come a-wooing to Ostrat in
vain! I tell you I would give ten years of my life but to see
that day!
OLAF SKAKTAVL. In faith and truth, Inger Gyldenlove--is this
your purpose towards him?
LADY INGER. This and nought else, as sure as God lives! Trust
me, Olaf Skaktavl, I mean honestly by my countrymen; but I am in
no way my own master. Things there be that must be kept hidden,
or 'twere my death-blow. But let me once be safe on _that_ side,
and you shall see if I have forgotten the oath I swore by Knut
Alfson's corpse.
OLAF SKAKTAVL (shakes her by the hand). Thanks for those words!
I am loath indeed to think evil of you.--Yet, touching your design
towards this knight, methinks 'tis a dangerous game you would play.
What if you had misreckoned? What if your daughter----? 'Tis said
no woman can stand against this subtle devil.
LADY INGER. My daughter? Think you that she----? Nay, have no
fear of that; I know Elina better. All she has heard of his renown
has but made her hate him the more. You saw with your own eyes----
OLAF SKAKTAVL. Ay, but--a woman's mind is shifting ground to
build on. 'Twere best you looked well before you.
LADY INGER. That will I, be sure; I will watch them narrowly.
But even were he to succeed in luring her into his toils, I have
but to whisper two words in her ear, and----
OLAF SKAKTAVL. What then?
LADY INGER. ----She will shrink from him as though he were sent
by the foul Tempter himself. Hist, Olaf Skaktavl! Here he comes.
Now be cautious.
(NILS LYKKE enters by the foremost door on the right.)
NILS LYKKE (approaches LADY INGER courteously). My noble hostess
has summoned me.
LADY INGER. I have learned through my daughter that you are
minded to leave us to-night.
NILS LYKKE. Even so, to my sorrow;--since my business at Ostrat
is over.
OLAF SKAKTAVL. Not before I have the papers.
NILS LYKKE. True, true. I had well-nigh forgotten the weightiest
part of my errand. 'Twas the fault of our noble hostess. With such
pleasant skill did she keep her guests in talk at the table----
LADY INGER. That you no longer remembered what had brought you
hither? I rejoice to hear it; For that was my design. Methought
that if my guest, Nils Lykke, were to feel at ease in Ostrat, he
must forget----
NILS LYKKE. What, lady?
LADY INGER. ----First of all his errand--and then all that had
gone before it.
NILS LYKKE (to OLAF SKAKTAVL, while he takes out the packet and
hands it to him). The papers from Peter Kanzler. You will find
them a full account of our partizans in Sweden.
OLAF SKAKTAVL. It is well.
(Sits down by the table on the left, where he opens the packet
and examines its contents.)
NILS LYKKE. And now, Lady Inger Gyldenlove--I know not that
aught remains to keep me here.
LADY INGER. Were it things of state alone that had brought us
together, you might be right. But I should be loath to think so.
NILS LYKKE. You would say----?
LADY INGER. I would say that 'twas not alone as a Danish
Councillor or as the ally of Peter Kanzler that Nils Lykke came
to be my guest.--Do I err in fancying that somewhat you may have
heard down in Denmark may have made you desirous of closer
acquaintance with the Lady of Ostrat.