Soshewentonpouringoutwordswiththestrangeeloquencethatshecouldcommandattimes，tillIgrewbewildered。Shewhohadlivedinlightandluxury，whohadlovedthevisionofallbrightandgloriousthings，waspleadingforhersighttothemanwhomshehadrobbedofsightthathemightnevermorebeholdtheyoungbeautyofherrival。
Shewhohadimaginationtoknowthegreatnessofhersinswaspleadingtobesparedthedeathshedarednotface。Shewaspleadingtome，whoforyearshadbeenherfaithfulsoldier，thecaptainofherownguard，sworntoprotectherfromtheslightestill，meuponwhom，forawhile，ithadpleasedhertolavishthewildpassionofherimperialheart，whooncehadalmostloved——who，indeed，hadkissedheronthelips。
Myordersweredefinite。Iwascommandedtoblindthiswomanandtokillherintheblinding，which，intruth，Iwhohadpoweroflifeanddeath，Iwhoruledoverthisislandlikeakingbyvirtueoftheroyalcommission，coulddowithoutquestionasked。IfI/failed/tofulfilthoseorders，Imustbepreparedtopaytheprice，asifIdidfulfilthemImightexpectahighreward，probablythegovernorshipofsomegreatprovinceoftheEmpire。Thiswasnocommonprisoner。Shewastheex-Empress，amightywomantowhomtensofthousandsorperhapsmillionsstilllookedforhelpandleadership。Itwasnecessarytothosewhohadseizedherplaceandpowerthatsheshouldberenderedincapableofrule。Itwasdesirabletothemthatsheshoulddie。YetsodelicatelywerethescalespoisedbetweenthemandtheadherentsofIrene，amongwhomwerenumberedallthegreatprincesoftheChurch，thattheythemselvesdidnotdaretoinflictmutilationordeathuponher。TheyfearedlestitshouldbefollowedbyastormofwraththatwouldshakeNicephorusfromhisthroneandinvolvetheminhisruin。
Sotheysenthertome，thegovernorofadistantdependency，themanwhomtheyknewshehadwickedlywronged，beingcertainthathertongue，whichitwassaidcouldturntheheartsofallmen，wouldneversoftenmine。Thenafterwardstheywoulddeclarethatthewarrantwasaforgery，thatIhadbutwreakedaprivatevengeanceuponanancientfoe，and，tostillthescandal，degrademefrommygovernorship——intosomeplaceofgreaterpowerandprofit。
Oh！whileIrenepleadedbeforemeand，heedlessofthepresenceofJodd，evencastherarmsaboutmeandlaidherheaduponmybreast，allthesethingspassedthroughmymind。InitsscalesIweighedthematterout，andthebeamroseagainstme，forIknewwellthatifI
sparedIreneIcondemnedmyselfandthosewhoweremoretomethanmyself，mywife，mychildren，andalltheNorthmenwhoclungtome，andwhowouldnotseemediewithoutblowstruck。Iunderstooditall，and，understanding，ofasuddenmadeupmymind——tospareIrene。Comewhatmight，Iwouldbenobutcher；Iwouldfollowmyheartwhithersoeveritmightleadme。
“Cease，Madam，“Isaid。“Ihavedecided。Jodd，bidthemessengersummonhitherHeliodoreandMartina，mywifeandyours。“
“Oh！“exclaimedIrene，“ifthesewomenaretobecalledincounselonmycaseallisfinished，seeingthatbothofthemloveyouandaremyenemies。Moreover，Ihavesomeprideleft。ToyouIcouldplead，butnottothem，thoughtheyblindmewiththeirbodkinsaftertheyhavestabbedmewiththeirtongues。Excellency，alastboon！Callinyourguardandkillme。“
“Madam，IsaidthatIhaddecided，andallthewomenintheworldwillnotchangemymindinthiswayorinthat。Jodd，domybidding。“
Joddstruckabell，onceonly，whichwasthesignalforthemessenger。
Hecameandreceivedhisorders。Thenfollowedapause，sinceHeliodoreandMartinawereinaplaceclosebyandmustbesentfor。
DuringthistimeIrenebegantotalktomeofsundrygeneralmatters。
ShecomparedtheviewthatmightbeseenfromthishouseinLesbostothatfromtheterraceofherpalaceontheBosphorus，anddescribeditsdifferencestome。SheaskedmeastotheCaliphHarun-al-Rashid，whomsheunderstoodIhadseen，inquiringastotheestimateIhadformedofhischaracter。Lastly，withalaugh，shedweltuponthestrangevicissitudesoflife。
“Lookatme，“shesaid。“IbeganmydaysasthedaughterofaGreekgentleman，withnodowersavemywitandbeauty。ThenIrosetobearuleroftheworld，andknewallthatithastogiveofpompandpower。Nationstrembledatmynod；atmysmilemengrewgreat；atmyfrowntheyfadedintonothingness。Saveyou，Olaf，noneeverreallyconqueredme，untilIfellintheappointedhour。Andnow！Ofthissplendourthereisleftbutanun’srobe；ofthiscountlesswealthbutonesilvercrucifix；ofthispower——naught。“
Soshespokeon，stillnotknowingtowhatdecisionIhadcome；
whethersheweretobeblindedortoliveordie。TomyselfIthoughtitwasaproofofhergreatnessthatshecouldthusturnhermindtosuchthingswhileFatehoveredoverher，itshanduponasword。Butitmaybethatshethoughtthustoimpressmeandtoenmeshmeinmemorieswhichwouldtiemyhands，orevenfromthecharacterofmyanswerstodrawsomeauguryofherdoom。
Thewomencameatlength。Heliodoreenteredfirst，andtoherIrenebowed。
“Greeting，LadyofEgypt，“shesaid。“Ah！hadyoutakenmycounselinthepast，thattitlemighthavebeenyoursinverytruth，andthereyouandyourhusbandcouldhavefoundedanewlineofkingsindependentoftheEmpirewhichtotterstoitsfall。“
“Iremembernosuchcounsel，Madam，“saidHeliodore。“ItseemstomethatthecourseItookwasrightandonepleasingtoGod，sinceithasgivenmemyhusbandformyself，although，itistrue，wickedlyrobbedofhiseyes。“
“Foryourself！CanyousaysowhileMartinaisalwaysathisside？“
sheaskedinamusingvoice。“Well，itmaybe，forinthisworldstrangethingshappen。“
Shepaused，andIheardbothHeliodoreandJoddmoveasthoughinanger，forherbittershafthadgonehome。Thenshewentonsoftly，“Lady，mayItellyouthat，inmyjudgment，yourbeautyisevengreaterthanitwas，thoughitistrueithasgrownfrombudtoflower。Fewbeartheiryearsandamother’sburdenssolightlyinthesehotlands。“
Heliodoredidnotanswer，foratthatmomentMartinaentered。SeeingIreneforthefirsttime，sheforgoteverythingthathadpassedandcurtseyedtoherintheoldfashion，murmuringthefamiliarwords，“Thyservantgreetsthee，Augusta。“
“Nay，usenotthattitle，Martina，toonewhohasdonewiththeworldanditsvanities。Callme’Mother’ifyouwill，forthatistheonlynameofhonourbywhichthoseofmyreligiousordermaybeknown。Intruth，asyourmotherinGod，Iwelcomeyouandblessyou，frommyheartforgivingyouthoseillswhichyouhaveworkedagainstme，being，asIknowwell，drivenbyalovethatisgreaterthananywomanbearstowoman。Butthateatingfireofpassionscornedistheheritageofbothofus，andofitwewilltalkafterwards。ImustnotwastethetimeoftheGeneralOlaf，whomdestiny，inreturnformanygriefs，hasappointedtobemyjailer。Oh！Olaf，“sheaddedwithalittlelaugh，“someforesightofthefuturemusthavetaughtmetotrainyouforthepost。Letusthenbesilent，ladies，andlistentothejudgmentwhichthisjailerofmineisabouttopassuponme。Doyouknowitisnolessthanwhethertheseeyesofmine，whichyouwerewonttopraise，Martina，whichinhislightermomentseventhissternOlafwaswonttopraise，shouldbetornfrombeneathmybrow，andifso，whetheritshouldbedoneinsuchafashionthatIdieofthedeed？Thatandnolessisthematterwhichhislipsmustsettle。Nowspeak，Excellency。“
“Madam，“Isaidslowly，“tothebestofmywitIhaveconsideredthelettersenttomeunderthesealandsignoftheEmperorNicephorus。
Althoughitmightbesointerpretedbysome，IcannotfindinthatletteranydirectcommandthatIshouldcauseyoutobeblinded，butonlyonethatIshouldkeepyouunderstrictguard，givingyousuchthingsasarenecessarytoyoursustenance。ThisthenIshalldo，andbythefirstshipmakereportofmyactiontotheEmperoratByzantium。“
Now，whensheheardthesewords，atlengththeproudspiritofIrenebroke。
“Godrewardyou，forIcannot，Olaf，“shecried。“Godrewardyou，saintamongmen，whocanpaybackcruelinjurieswiththegentlestmercy。“
Sosaying，sheburstintotearsandfellsenselesstotheground。
Martinarantoaidher，butHeliodoreturnedtomeandsaidinhertendervoice，“Thisisworthyofyou，Olaf，andIwouldnothaveyoudootherwise。
Yet，husband，Ifearthatthispityofyourshassignedthedeath-
warrantofusall。“
Soitprovedtobe，though，asitchanced，thatwarrantwasneverexecuted。ImademyreporttoByzantium，andincourseoftimetheanswercameinaletterfromtheEmperor。Thislettercoldlyapprovedofmyactinsetandformalphrases。ItaddedthatthetruthhadbeenconveyedpubliclytothoseslanderersoftheEmperorwhoannouncedthathehadcausedIrenetobefirstblindedandthenputtodeathinLesbos，wherebytheireviltongueshadbeensilenced。
Thencamethispregnantsentence:
“Wecommandyou，withyourwifeandchildrenandyourlieutenant，theCaptainJodd，withhiswifeandchildren，tolaydownyourofficesandreportyourselveswithallspeedtoUsatourCourtofByzantium，thatwemayconferwithyouoncertainmatters。Ifitisnotconvenienttoyou，oryoucanfindnofittingshipinwhichtosailatonce，knowthatwithinamonthofyourreceiptofthisletterourfleetwillcallatLesbosandbringyouandtheothershereinmentionedtoourPresence。“
“Thatisadeathsentence，“saidMartina，whenshehadfinishedreadingoutthispassage。“Ihaveseenseveralsuchsentinmyday，whenIwasIrene’sconfidentiallady。Itisthecommonform。WeshallneverreachByzantium，Olaf，or，ifwedo，weshallneverleaveitmore。“
Inodded，forIknewthatthiswasso。Then，atsomewhisperedwordfromMartina，Heliodorespoke。
“Husband，“shesaid，“foreseeingthisissue，Martina，Jodd，andmostoftheNorthmenandIhavemadeaplanwhichwenowsubmittoyou，prayingthatforoursakes，ifnotforyours，youwillnotthrustitaside。Wehaveboughttwogoodships，armedthemandfurnishedthemwithallthingsneedful。Moreover，duringthepasttwomonthswehavesoldmuchofourproperty，turningitintogold。Thisisourplan——
thatwepretendtoobeytheorderoftheEmperor，butinsteadofheadingforByzantium，sailawaynorthtothelandinwhichyouwereborn，where，havingrankandpossessions，youmaystillbecomeamightychief。IfwegoatonceweshallmisstheImperialfleet，andI
thinkthatnonewillfollowus。“
NowIbowedmyheadforawhileandthought。ThenIlifteditandsaid，“Soletitbe。Nootherroadisopen。“
FormyownsakeIwouldnothavestirredaninch。IwouldhavegonetotheCourtoftheEmperoratByzantiumandtherearguedoutthethinginagambler’sspirit，preparedtowinorpreparedtolose。ThereatleastIshouldhavehadalltheimage-worshipperswhoadoredIrene，thatis，thefullhalfoftheEmpire，uponmyside，andifIperished，Ishouldperishasasaint。ButawifeandchildrenarethemostterriblegiftsofGod，ifthemostblessed，fortheyturnourheartstowater。So，forthefirsttimeinmylife，Igrewafraid，and，fortheirsakes，fled。
Asmightbeexpected，havingMartina’sbrains，Heliodore’slove，andtheNorthmen’sloyaltyatthebackofit，ourplanwentwell。AletterwassenttotheEmperorsayingthatwewouldawaitthearrivalofthefleettoobeyhiscommands，havingsomeprivatematterstoarrangebeforeweleftLesbos。Then，onacertainevening，weembarkedontwogreatships，aboutfourhundredsoulsinall。
BeforewewentIbadefarewelltoIrene。Shewasseatedoutsidethehousethathadbeengiventoher，employedinspinning，foritwasherfancytoearnthebreadsheatebythelabourofherhands。RoundherwereplayingJodd’schildrenandmyown，whom，inordertoescapesuspicion，wehadsentthithertillthetimecameforustoembark，sincethepeopleofLesbosonlyknewofourschemebyrumour。
“Whitherdoyougo，Olaf？“sheasked。
“BacktotheNorth，whenceIcame，Madam，“Ianswered，“tosavethelivesofthese，“andIwavedmyhandtowardsthechildren。“IfIbidehereallmustdie。WehavebeensentfortoByzantium，asIthink/you/werewonttosendforofficerswhohadceasedtopleaseyou。“
“Iunderstand，Olaf；moreover，IknowitisIwhohavebroughtthistroubleuponyoubecauseyousparedme，whomitwasmeantthatyoushouldkill。AlsoIknow，throughfriendsofmine，thathenceforth，forreasonsofpolicy，mylittleendoflifeissafe，andperhapswithitmysight。AllthisIowetoyou，thoughnowattimesIregretthatIaskedtheboon。FromthelotofanEmpresstothatofaspinning-
wifeisagreatchange，andonewhichIfinditheardtobear。Still，IhavemypeacetomakewithGod，andtowardsthatpeaceIstrive。Yetwillyounottakemewithyou，Olaf？IshouldliketofoundanunneryinthatcoldNorthofyours。“
“No，Augusta。Ihavedonemybestbyyou，andnowyoumustguardyourself。Wepartforever。IgohencetofinishwhereIbegan。Mybirthplacecallsme。“
“Foreverisalongword，Olaf。Areyousurethatwepartforever？
Perchanceweshallmeetagainindeathorinotherlives。Such，atleast，wasthebeliefofsomeofthewisestofmypeoplebeforewebecameChristian，andmayhaptheChristiansdonotknoweverything，sincetheworldhadlearntmuchbeforetheycame。Ihopethatitmaybeso，Olaf，forIoweyouagreatdebtandwouldrepayittoyoufullmeasure，presseddownandrunningover。Farewell。Takewithyoutheblessingofasinfulandabrokenheart，“and，rising，shekissedmeonthebrow。
HereendsthestoryofthislifeofmineasOlafRed-Sword，sinceofitIcanrecovernomore。Thedarknessdrops。OfwhatbefellmeandtheothersaftermypartingwithIreneIknownothingorverylittle。
Doubtlesswesailedawaynorth，and，Ithink，camesafelytoAar，sinceIhavefaintvisionsofIdunatheFairgrownold，butstillunwed，forthestainofSteinar’sblood，asitwere，stillmarkedherbrowinallmen’seyes；andevenofFreydisa，white-hairedandnoble-
looking。Howdidwemeetandhowdidweseparateatlast，Iwonder？
AndwhatwerethefatesofHeliodoreandofourchildren；ofMartinaandofJodd？Also，wastheprophecyofOdin，spokenthroughthelipsofFreydisainthetempleatAar，thatheandhisfellowgods，ordemons，wouldprevailagainstmyfleshandthatofthosewhoclungtome，fulfilledatlastinthefiresofmartyrdomfortheFaith，ashispromiseofmyhappinesswasfulfilled？
Icannottell。Icannottell。Darknessentombsusallandhistoryisdumb。
AtAartherearemanygraves！Standingamongthem，notsolongago，muchofthishistorycamebacktome。
End
