[_To_ NILS LYKKE.] Here is the man you seek. NILS LYKKE. [_Aside._] Powers of hell—what means this? LADY INGER. I have told this knight your name and all that you have imparted to me—— NILS LYKKE. [_Irresolutely._] Ay? Have you so? Well—— LADY INGER. ——and I will not hide from you that his faith in your help is none of the strongest. NILS LYKKE. Is it not? LADY INGER. Can you marvel at that? Surely you know both his way of thinking and his bitter fate—— NILS LYKKE. This man’s—? Ah—yes, truly—— OLAF SKAKTAVL. [_To_ NILS LYKKE.] But seeing ’tis Peter Kanzler himself that has appointed us this meeting—— NILS LYKKE. Peter Kanzler—? [_Recovers himself quickly._] Ay, right,—I have a mission from Peter Kanzler—— OLAF SKAKTAVL. He must know best whom he can trust. So why should I trouble my head with pondering how—— NILS LYKKE. Ay, you are right, noble Sir; why waste time over that? OLAF SKAKTAVL. Rather let us come straight to the matter. NILS LYKKE. Straight to the point; no beating about the bush—’tis ever my fashion. OLAF SKAKTAVL. Then will you tell me your errand here? NILS LYKKE. Methinks you can partly guess my errand—— OLAF SKAKTAVL. Peter Kanzler said something of papers that—— NILS LYKKE. Papers? Ay, true, the papers! OLAF SKAKTAVL. Doubtless you have them with you? NILS LYKKE. Of course; safely bestowed; so safely that I cannot at once—— [_Appears to search the inner pockets of his doublet; says to himself:_ Who the devil is he? What pretext can I make? I may be on the brink of great discoveries—— [_Notices that the_ SERVANTS _are laying the table and lighting the lamps in the Banquet Hall, and says to_ OLAF SKAKTAVL: Ah, I see Lady Inger has taken order for the evening meal. Mayhap we could better talk of our affairs at table. OLAF SKAKTAVL. Good; as you will. NILS LYKKE. [_Aside._] Time gained—all gained!