THE BAILIFF AND THE SERVANTS. Finn!
NILS LYKKE (aside). My last anchor gone!
LADY INGER (imperatively). To the dungeon with him!
(EINAR HUK, BIORN, 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 Gyldenlove!
LADY INGER (passes close to NILS LYKKE as she follows 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 been playing here! (Listens at the window.) There they go 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. 'Twill be life or death. But if they should take him alive after all?—Were I but free, I could overtake the Swedes ere they reach the frontier, and make them deliver him up. (Goes towards the window in the background and looks out.) Damnation! Guards outside on every hand. Can there be no way out of this? (Comes quickly forward again; suddenly stops and listens.) What is that? Music and singing. It seems to come from Elina's chamber. Ay, it is she that is singing. Then she is still awake—— (A thought seems to strike him.) Elina!—Ah, if that could be! If it could but——And why should I not? Am I not still myself? Says not the song:—
Fair maidens a-many they sigh and they pine; "Ah God, that Nils Lykke were mine, mine, mine."
And she——? —— ——Elina Gyldenlove shall set me free!
(Goes quickly but stealthily towards the first door on the left.)