Hearken to me, Lady Inger! You said yourself but now that your position is no easy one. You stand half way between two hostile camps, whereof neither dares trust you fully. Your own interest must needs bind you to _us_. On the other hand, you are bound to the disaffected by the bond of nationality, and—who knows?—mayhap by some secret tie as well. LADY INGER. [_To herself._] A secret tie! Oh God, can he——? NILS LYKKE. [_Notices her emotion, but makes no sign, and continues without change of manner._] You cannot but see that such a position must ere long become impossible.—Suppose, now, it lay in my power to free you from these embarrassments which—— LADY INGER. In your power, you say? NILS LYKKE. First of all, Lady Inger, I would beg you to lay no stress on any careless words I may have used concerning that which lies between us two. Think not that I have forgotten for a moment the wrong I have done you. Suppose, now, I had long purposed to make atonement, as far as might be, where I had sinned. Suppose it were for that reason I had contrived to have this mission assigned me. LADY INGER. Speak your meaning more clearly, Sir Councillor;—I cannot follow you. NILS LYKKE. I can scarce be mistaken in thinking that you, as well as I, know of the threatened troubles in Sweden. You know, or at least you can guess, that this rising is of far wider aim than is commonly supposed, and you understand therefore that our King cannot look on quietly and let things take their course. Am I not right? LADY INGER. Go on. NILS LYKKE. [_Searchingly, after a short pause._] There is _one_ possible chance that might endanger Gustav Vasa’s throne—— LADY INGER. [_To herself._] Whither is he tending? NILS LYKKE. ——the chance, namely, that there should exist in Sweden a man entitled by his birth to claim election to the kingship. LADY INGER. [_Evasively._] The Swedish nobles have been even as bloodily hewn down as our own, Sir Councillor. Where would you seek for——? NILS LYKKE. [_With a smile._] Seek? The man is found already—— LADY INGER. [_Starts violently._] Ah! He is found? NILS LYKKE.