oned 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.

NILS LYKKE. Far be it from me to deny----

OLAF SKAKTAVL (turning over the papers). Strange. No letter.

NILS LYKKE. ----Lady Inger Gyldenlove's fame is all too widely
spread that I should not long have been eager to see her face
to face.

LADY INGER. So I thought. But what, then, is an hour's jesting
talk at the supper-table? Let us try to sweep away all that has
separated us till now; it may well happen that the Nils Lykke I
know may wipe out the grudge I bore the one I knew not. Prolong
your stay here but a few days, Sir Councillor! I dare not persuade
Olaf Skaktavl thereto, since his secret charge in Sweden calls him
hence. But as for you, doubtless your sagacity has placed all
things beforehand in such train, that your presence can scarce
be needed. Trust me, your time shall not pass