go----

(Begins to descend.)

ELINA. Go forward along the passage till you reach the coffin
with the death's-head and the black cross; it is Lucia's----

NILS LYKKE (climbs back hastily and shuts the trap-door to).
Lucia's! Pah----!

ELINA. What said you?

NILS LYKKE. Nay, nought. It was the scent of the grave that
made me dizzy.

ELINA. Hark; they are hammering at the gate!

NILS LYKKE (lets the lantern fall). Ah! too late----!

(BIORN enters hurriedly from the right, carrying a light.)

ELINA (goes towards him). What is amiss, Biorn? What is it?

BIORN. An ambuscade! Count Sture----

ELINA. Count Sture? What of him?

NILS LYKKE. Have they killed him?

BIORN (to ELINA). Where is your mother?

TWO HOUSE-SERVANTS (rushing in from the right). Lady Inger!
Lady Inger!

(LADY INGER GYLDENLOVE enters by the first door on the left,
with a branch-candlestick, lighted, in her hand, and says
quickly:)

LADY INGER. I know all. Down with you to the courtyard! Keep
the gate open for our friends, but closed against all others!

(Puts down the candlestick on the table to the left. BIORN
and the two House-Servants go out again to the right.)

LADY INGER (to NILS LYKKE). So _that _ was the trap, Sir
Councillor!

NILS LYKKE. Inger Gyldenlove, trust me----!

LADY INGER. An ambuscade that was to snap him up, as soon as
you had got the promise that should destroy me!

NILS LYKKE (takes out the paper and tears it to pieces). There
is your promise. I keep nothing that can bear witness against you.

LADY INGER. What will you do?

NILS LYKKE. From this hour I am your champion. If I have sinned
against you,--by Heaven I will strive to repair my crime. But now
I _must_ out, if I have to hew my way through the gate!--Elina--
tell your mother all!--And you, Lady Inger, let our reckoning be
forgotten! Be generous--and silent! Trust me, ere the day dawns
you shall owe me a life's gratitude.

(Goes out quickly to the right.)

LADY INGER (looks after him with exultation). It is well! I
understand him!
(Turns to ELINA.)
Nils Lykke----? Well----?

ELINA. He knocked upon my door, and set this ring upon my finger.

LADY INGER. And he loves you with all his heart?

ELINA. My mother--you are so strange. Oh, ay--I know--it is
my unloving ways that have angered you.

LADY INGER. Not so, dea