[_To_ FINN, _whom he has beckoned to him unobserved, and with whom he has been whispering._] Good—now contrive to slip out. Let none see you. The Swedes are in ambush half a league hence. Tell the commander that Count Sture is dead. The young man you see there must on no account be touched. Tell the commander so. Tell him the boy’s life is worth thousands to me. FINN. It shall be done. LADY INGER. [_Who has meanwhile been watching_ NILS LYKKE.] And now go, all of you, and God be with you! [_Points to_ NILS LYKKE.] This noble knight cannot find it in his heart to leave his friends at Östråt so hastily. He will abide here with me till the tidings of your victory arrive. NILS LYKKE. [_To himself._] Devil! NILS STENSSON. [_Seizes his hand._] Trust me—you shall not have long to wait! NILS LYKKE. It is well; it is well! [_Aside._] All may yet be saved. If only my message reach Jens Bielke in time—— LADY INGER. [_To_ EINAR HUK, _the bailiff, pointing to_ FINN.] And let _that_ man be placed under close guard in the castle dungeon. FINN. Me? THE BAILIFF AND THE SERVANTS. Finn! NILS LYKKE. [_Aside._] My last anchor gone! LADY INGER. [_Imperatively._] To the dungeon with him! [EINAR HUK, BIÖRN, _and a couple of the house-servants lead_ FINN _out to the left_. ALL THE REST. [_Except_ NILS LYKKE, _rushing out to the right._] Away! To horse,—to horse! Hail to Lady Inger Gyldenlöve! LADY INGER. [_Passing close to_ NILS LYKKE _as she goes out after the others._] Who wins? NILS LYKKE. [_Remains alone._] Who? Ay, woe to you;—your victory will cost you dear. _I_ wash my hands of it. ’Tis not _I_ that am murdering him. But my prey is escaping me none the less; and the revolt will grow and spread!—Ah, ’tis a foolhardy, a frantic game I have here taken in hand! [_Listens at the window._. There they ride clattering out through the gateway.—Now ’tis closed after them—and I am left here a prisoner. No way of escape! Within half-an-hour the Swedes will be upon him. He has thirty well-armed horsemen with him. ’Twill be life or death.