“Yet I am glad that he did not come alone, Martina.”

“Truly you have a high and faithful heart, and that woman should be honoured whom you love.  What is the secret?  There must be more in it than the mere desire for a woman’s beauty, though I know that at times this can make men mad.  In such a business the soul must play its part.”

“I think so, Martina.  Indeed, I believe so, since otherwise we suffer much in vain.  Now tell me, how and when do I die?”

“I hope you will not die at all, Olaf.  Certain plans are laid which even here I dare not whisper.  To-morrow I hear they will lead you again before the judges, who, by Irene’s clemency, will change your sentence to one of banishment, with secret orders to kill you on the voyage.  But you will never make that voyage.  Other schemes are afoot; you’ll learn of them afterwards.”

“Yet, Martina, if you know these plots the Augusta knows them also, since you and she are one.”

“When those dagger points were thrust into your eyes, Olaf, they cut the thread that bound us, and now Irene and I are more far apart than hell and heaven.  I tell you that for your sake I hate her and work her downfall.  Am I not your god-mother, Olaf?”

Then again she kissed my hand and presently was gone.

On the following morning, as I supposed it to be, my jailers came and said to me that I must appear before the judges to hear some revision of my sentence.  They dressed me in my soldier’s gear, and even allowed me to gird my sword about me, knowing, doubtless, that, save to himself, a blind man could do no mischief with a sword.  Then they led me I know not whither by passages which turned now here, now there.  At length we entered some place, for doors were closed behind us.

“This is the Hall of Judgment,” said one of them, “but the judges have not yet come.  It is a great room and bare.  There is nothing in it against which you can hurt yourself.  Therefore, if it pleases you after being cramped so long in that narrow cell, you may walk to and fro, keeping your hands in front of you so that you will know when you touch the further wall and must turn.”

I thanked them and, glad enough to avail myself of this grace for my limbs were stiff with want of exercise, began to walk joyfully.  I thought that the room must be one of those numberless apartments which opened on to the terrace, since distinctly I could hear the wash of the sea coming from far beneath, doubtless through the open window-places.

Forward I stepped boldly, but at a certain point in my march this curious thing happened.  A hand seemed to seize my own and draw me to the left.  Wondering, I followed the guidance of the hand, which presently left hold of mine.  Thereon I continued my march, and as I did so, thought that I heard another sound, like to that of a suppressed murmur of human voices.  Twenty steps more and I reached the end of the chamber, for my outstretched fingers touched its marble wall.  I turned and marched back, and lo! at the twentieth step that hand took mine again and led me to the right, whereon once more the murmur of voices reached me.