So he went, and for the next two hours or more I sat in my private room dictating letters to Heliodore on matters connected with the duties of my office.  The work came to an end at last, and I was preparing to take my evening ride on a led mule when Martina entered the room.

“Do you ride with us to-night, Martina?” I asked, recognising her step.

“No, Olaf,” she said quickly, “nor I think can you.  Here are letters for you from Byzantium.  Jodd has brought them from the ship.”

“Where is Jodd?” I said.

“Without, in the company of the captain of the ship, some guards, and a prisoner.”

“What prisoner?”

“Perchance the letters will tell you,” she replied evasively.  “Have I your command to open and read?  They are marked ‘Most Secret.’”

I nodded, since Martina often acted as my secretary in high matters, being from her training skilled in such things.  So she broke the seals and read to myself and to Heliodore, who also was present in the room, as follows: 

“’To the Excellent Michael, a General of our armies and Governor of the Isle of Lesbos, Greetings from Nicephorus, by the will of God Emperor.

“’Know, O Michael, that we, the Emperor, reposing especial faith in you our trusted servant, with these letters deliver into your keeping a certain prisoner of State.  This prisoner is none other than Irene, who aforetime was Empress.

“’Because of her many wickednesses in the sight of God and man we by the decree of the People, of the Army, of the Senate and of the high Officers of State amidst general rejoicing deposed the said Irene, widow of the Emperor Leo and mother of the late Emperor Constantine, and placed ourselves upon the throne.  The said Irene, at her own request, we consigned to the place called the Island of Princes, setting her in charge of certain holy monks.  Whilst there, abusing our mercy and confidence, she set on foot plots to murder our Person and repossess herself of the throne.

“’Now our Councillors with one voice urged that she should be put to death in punishment of her crimes, but we, being mindful of the teaching of our Lord and Saviour and of His saying that we should turn the other cheek to those who smite us, out of our gentle pity have taken another counsel.

“’Learn now, most excellent Michael the Blind, who once were known as Olaf Red-Sword, that we hand over to your keeping the person of Irene, aforetime Empress, charging you to deal with her as she dealt with you and as she dealt also with the late Emperor Constantine, the son of her body, for thus shall her evil plottings be brought to naught.’”

“By God’s Name, he means that I must blind her!” I exclaimed.

Making no answer, Martina went on with the letter——­

“’Should the said Irene survive her just punishment, we command you to make sufficient provision for her daily wants, but no more, and to charge the same against the sum due Us from the revenues of Lesbos.  Should she die at once, or at any future time, give to her decent private burial, and report to Us the circumstances of her death duly attested.