, and all about Iduna the Fair also. An
exalted person told it me, and so did you, although you were not aware
that you had done so, for you are not one who can keep a secret to
himself. May all the guardian angels help that necklace-lady if ever she
should meet another lady whom I will not name. And now why do you talk
so much? Are you learning to preach, or what? If you really do mean to
become a monk, Olaf, there is another thing you must give up, and that
is war, except of the kind which you saw at the Council the other day.
God above us! what a sight it would be to see you battering another
bishop with a hook-shaped staff over a question of images or the Two
Natures. I should be sorry for that bishop. But you haven't told me who
converted you."

"Barnabas of Egypt," I said.

"Oh! I hoped that it had been a lady saint; the story would have been so
much more interesting to the Court. Well, our imperial mistress does not
like Barnabas, because he does not like images, and that may be a sting
in _her_ honey. But perhaps she will forgive him for your sake. You'll
have to worship images."

"What do I care about images? It is the spirit that I seek, Martina, and
all these things are nothing."

"You are thorough, as usual, Olaf, and jump farther than you can see.
Well, be advised and say naught for or against images. As they have no
meaning for you, what can it matter if they are or are not there? Leave
them to the blind eyes and little minds. And now I must be gone, who
can listen to your gossip no longer. Oh! I had forgotten my message.
The Augusta commands that you shall wait on her this evening immediately
after she has supped. Hear and obey!"

Having delivered this formal mandate, to neglect which meant
imprisonment, or worse, she threw her cloak about her, and with a
wondering glance at my face, opened the door and went.

At the hour appointed, or, rather, somewhat before it, I attended at the
private apartments of the palace. Evidently I was expected, for one of
the chamberlains, on seeing me, bowed and bade me be seated, then left
the ante-room. Presently the door opened again, and through it came
Martina, clad in her white official robe.

"You are early, Olaf," she said, "like a lover who keeps a tryst. Well,
it is always wise to meet good fortune half way. But why do you come
clad in full armour? It is not the custom to wait thus upon the Empress
at this hour when you are off duty."

"I thought that I w