NILS STENSSON. I shall keep my word; be sure of that. The
secret shall not pass my lips till you yourself release me. But
she is my mother!
NILS LYKKE (aside). And Jens Bielke in wait on the road!
Damnation! He will snatch the prize out of my fingers----
(To LADY INGER.)
Wait till to-morrow!
LADY INGER (to NILS STENSSON). Count Sture--do you obey me or
not?
NILS STENSSON. To horse! (Goes up towards the background).
NILS LYKKE (aside). Unhappy boy! He knows not what he does.
(To LADY INGER.)
Well, since so it must be,--farewell!
(Bows hastily, and begins to move away.)
LADY INGER (detains him). Nay, stay! Not so, Sir Knight,--
not so!
NILS LYKKE. What mean you?
LADY INGER (in a low voice). Nils Lykke--you are a traitor!
Hush! Let no one see there is dissension in the camp of the
leaders. You have won Peter Kanzler's trust by some devilish
cunning that as yet I see not through. You have forced me to
rebellious acts--not to help our cause, but to further your own
plots, whatever they may be. I can draw back no more. But think
not therefore that you have conquered! I shall contrive to make
you harmless----
NILS LYKKE (lays his hand involuntarily on his sword). Lady
Inger!
LADY INGER. Be calm, Sir Councillor! Your life is safe. But
you come not outside the gates of Ostrat before victory is ours.
NILS LYKKE. Death and destruction!
LADY INGER. It boots not to resist. You come not from this
place. So rest you quiet; 'tis your wisest course.
NILS LYKKE (to himself). Ah,--I am overreached. She has been
craftier than I. (A thought strikes him.) But if I yet----?
LADY INGER (to OLAF SKAKTAVL). Ride with Count Sture's troops
to the frontier; then without pause to Peter Kanzler, and bring
me back my child. Now has he no longer any plea for keeping from
me what is my own.
(Adds, as OLAF SKAKTAVL is going:)
Wait; a token.--He that wears Sten Sture's ring is my son.
OLAF SKAKTAVL. By all the saints, you shall have him!
LADY INGER. Thanks,--thanks, my faithful friend!
NILS LYKKE (to FINN, whom he has beckoned to him unobserved,
and with whom he has been whispering). Good--now manage to slip
out. Let none see you. The Swedes are in ambush two miles hence.
Tell the commander that Count Sture is dead. The young man you
see there must not be touched. Tell the commander so. Tell him
the boy's life is worth thousands to me.
FINN. It shall be done.
LADY INGER (who has meanwhile been watching NILS LYKKE). And
now go, all of you; go with God! (Points to NILS LYKKE.) This
noble knight cannot find it in his heart to leave his friends at
Ostrat so hastily. He will abide here with me till the tidings
of your victory arrive.
NILS LYKKE (to himself). Devil!
NILS STENSSON (seizes his hand). Trust me--you shall not have
long to wait!
NILS LYKKE. It is well; it is well! (Aside.) All may yet be
saved. If only my message reach Jens Bielke in time----
LADY INGER (to EINAR HUK, the bailiff, pointing to FINN). And
let that man be placed under close guard in the castle dungeon.
FINN. Me?
THE BAILIFF AND THE SERVANTS. Finn!
NILS LYKKE (aside). My last anchor gone!
LADY INGER (imperatively). To the dungeon with him!
(EINAR HUK, BIORN, and a couple of the house-servants lead
FINN out to the left.)
ALL THE REST (except NILS LYKKE, rushing out to the right).
Away! To horse,--to horse! Hail to Lady Inger Gyldenlove!
LADY INGER (passes close to NILS LYKKE as she follows the others).
Who wins?
NILS LYKKE (remains alone). Who? Ay, woe to you;--your victory
will cost you dear. _I_ wash my hands of it. 'Tis not _I_ that
am murdering him.
But my prey is escaping me none the less; and the revolt will
grow and spread!--Ah, 'tis a foolhardy, a frantic game I have been
playing here!
(Listens at the window.)
There they go clattering out through the gateway.--Now 'tis closed
after them--and I am left here a prisoner.
No way of escape! Within half-an-hour the Swedes will be upon
him. 'Twill be life or death.
But if they should take him alive after all?--Were I but free,
I could overtake the Swedes ere they reach the frontier, and make
them deliver him up. (Goes towards the window in the background
and looks out.) Damnation! Guards outside on every hand. Can
there be no way out of this? (Comes quickly forward again;
suddenly stops and listens.)
What is that? Music and singing. It seems to come from Elina's
chamber. Ay, it is she that is singing. Then she is still awake----
(A thought seems to strike him.)
Elina!--Ah, if _that_ could be! If it could but----And why should
I not? Am I not still myself? Says not the song:--
_Fair maidens a-many they sigh and they pine;
"Ah God, that Nils Lykke were mine, mine, mine."_
And she----? ---- ----Elina Gyldenlove shall set me free!
(Goes quickly but stealthily towards the first door on
the left.)