You mistake me. Lady Inger doubts not at all that you are her child; but—ay, look about you; look at all this wealth; look at these mighty forefathers and kinsmen whose pictures deck the walls both high and low; look lastly at herself, the haughty dame, used to bear sway as the first noblewoman in the kingdom. Think you it can be to her mind to take a poor ignorant youth by the hand before all men’s eyes and say: Behold my son! NILS STENSSON. Ay, doubtless you are right. I am poor and ignorant. I have nought to offer her in return for what I crave. Oh, never have I felt my poverty weigh on me till this hour! But tell me—what think you I should do to win her favour? Tell me, dear Sir; sure you must know! NILS LYKKE. You must win your father’s kingdom. But until that may be, look well that you wound not her ears by hinting at kinship or the like. She will bear her as though she believed you to be the real Count Sture, until you have made yourself worthy to be called her son. NILS STENSSON. Oh, but tell me——! NILS LYKKE. Hush; hush! LADY INGER. [_Rises and hands him a paper._] Sir Knight—here is my promise. NILS LYKKE. I thank you. LADY INGER. [_Notices_ NILS STENSSON.] Ah,—this young man is——? NILS LYKKE. Ay, Lady Inger, he is Count Sture. LADY INGER. [_Aside, looks at him stealthily._] Feature for feature;—ay, by God,—it is Sten Sture’s son! [_Approaches him and says with cold courtesy:_ I bid you welcome under my roof, Count! It rests with you whether or not we shall bless this meeting a year hence. NILS STENSSON. With me? Oh, do but tell me what I must do! Trust me, I have both courage and will—— NILS LYKKE. [_Listens uneasily._] What is this noise and uproar, Lady Inger? There are people pressing hitherward. What does this mean? LADY INGER. [_In a loud voice._] ’Tis the spirits awaking! [OLAF SKAKTAVL, EINAR HUK, BIÖRN, FINN, _and a number of_ PEASANTS _and_ RETAINERS _come in from the back, on the right._ THE PEASANTS AND RETAINERS. Hail to Lady Inger Gyldenlöve! LADY INGER. [_To_ OLAF SKAKTAVL.] Have you told them what is afoot? OLAF SKAKTAVL.