"You will grant me no favour, not even the life of this traitor, who, I tell you, is conspiring against you, and desires to place Edwy, the Etheling, Edmund's brother, on the throne in your place."
"Your proof lies, I suppose, in the hatred you have always borne him," was the king's reply.
Hermann could not help hearing, they spoke so loudly, but the next words enchained his attention.
"I tell thee the name 'Alfgar' is first and foremost amongst the signatures of the men who have conspired to cast thee from the throne."
"Then I conclude you placed it there; tush, man, I know thee of old!"
"Why should you suspect this? was not he Edmund's faithful friend, worshipping him as a god, and would he not do all he could for his brother?"
"I thought you held him guilty of Edmund's murder."
"That was only because I wished to remove two enemies from your path instead of one you will not remove one from mine; lo! I forsook Edmund my king for thy sake, and for thy sake I slew him, and thus thou rewardest me."
Then Canute waxed furious, and he shouted, "Guard! guard!"
Hermann rushed in; and amongst others Eric, the Earl of Northumbria.