NILS LYKKE. Lucia?
ELINA. Have you known Lucia?
NILS LYKKE. No, no; I have but heard her name.
ELINA. She too gave her heart to a knight. He betrayed her;--
and now she is in Heaven.
NILS LYKKE. And you----?
ELINA. I hate him.
NILS LYKKE. Hate him not! If there be mercy in your heart,
forgive him his sin. Trust me, he bears his punishment in his
own breast.
ELINA. Him I will never forgive! I _cannot_, even if I would;
for I have sworn so dear an oath----
(Listening.)
Hush! Can you hear----?
NILS LYKKE. What? Where?
ELINA. Without; far off. The noise of many horsemen on the
high-road.
NILS LYKKE. Ah, it is they! And I had forgotten----! They
are coming hither. Then is the danger great;--I must begone!
ELINA. But whither? Oh, Nils Lykke, what are you hiding----?
NILS LYKKE. To-morrow, Elina----; for as God lives, I will
return then.--Quickly now--where is the secret passage you told
me of?
ELINA. Through the grave-vault. See,--here is the trap-door.
NILS LYKKE. The grave-vault! (To himself.) No matter, he
_must_ be saved!