You will not keep her in the palace?
Håkon.
She is too dear to me, Earl;—a king must have none about him whom he loves too well. A king must act with free hands; he must stand alone he must neither be led nor lured. There is so much to be mended in Norway.
[Goes on writing.
Vegard Væradal.
[Softly to Bishop Nicholas.] ’Tis by my counsel he deals thus with Inga, his mother.
Bishop Nicholas.
I knew your hand in it at once.
Vegard Væradal.
But now one good turn deserves another.