onoured by marrying
a son of Odin? Is she going to be more dainty than Placidia?'

'What was good enough for an emperor's daughter must be good enough for
her.'

'Good enough? And Adolf only a Balt, while Amalric is a full-blooded
Amal--Odin's son by both sides?'

'I don't know whether she would understand that.'

'Then we would make her. Why not carry her off, and marry her to the
Amal whether she chose or not? She would be well content enough with him
in a week, I will warrant.'

'But there is Pelagia in the way.'

'Put her out of the way, then.'

'Impossible.'

'It was this morning; a week hence it may not be. I heard a promise made
to-night which will do it, if there be the spirit of a Goth left in the
poor besotted lad whom we know of.'

'Oh, he is all right at heart; never fear him. But what was the
promise?'

'I will not tell till it is claimed. I will not be the man to shame
my own nation and the blood of the gods. But if that drunken Prefect
recollects it--why let him recollect it. And what is more, the monk-boy
who was here to-night--'

'Ah, what a well-grown lad that is wasted!'

'More than suspects--and if his story is true, I more than suspect
too--that Pelagia is his sister.'

'His sister! But what of that?'

'He wants, of course, to carry her off and make a nun of her.'

'You would not let him do such a thing to the poor child?'

'If folks get in my way, Smid, they must go down. So much the worse for
them: but old Wulf was never turned back yet by man or beast, and he
will not be now.'

'After all, it will serve the hussy right. But Amalric?'

'Out of sight, out of mind.'

'But they say the Prefect means to marry the girl.'

'He? That scented ape? She would not be such a wretch.'

'But he does intend; and she intends too. It is the talk of the whole
town. We should have to put him out of the way first.'

'Why not? Easy enough' and a good riddance for Alexandria. Yet if we
made away with him we should be forced to take the city too; and I doubt
whether we have hands enough for that.'

'The guards might join us. I will go down to the barracks and try them,
if you choose' to-morrow. I am a boon-companion with a good many of them
already. But after all, Prince Wulf--of course you are always right; we
all know that--but what's the use of marrying this Hypatia to the Amal?'

'Use?' said Wulf, smiting down his goblet on the pavement. 'Use? you
purblind old hamster-rat, who think o