On the following morning, as I sat in my office at the prison, settingall things in order for whoever should succeed me, Martina entered, asshe had done before.
"How came you here unannounced?" I asked, when she was seated.
"By virtue of this," she answered, holding up her hand and showing onit a ring I knew. It was the signet of the Empress. I saluted the seal,saying:
"And for what purpose, Martina? To order me to bonds or death?"
"To bonds or death!" she exclaimed innocently. "What can our good Olafhave done worthy of such woes? Nay, I come to free one from bonds,and perhaps from death, namely, a certain heretic bishop who is namedBarnabas. Here is the order for his release, signed by the Augusta'shand and sealed with her seal, under which he is at liberty to bide inConstantinople while he will and to return to his bishopric in Egyptwhen it pleases him. Also, if he holds that any have harmed him, he maymake complaint, and it shall be considered without delay."
I took the parchment, read it, and laid it on the table, saying:
"The commands of the Empress shall be done. Is there aught else,Martina?"
"Yes. To-morrow morning you will be relieved of your office, and anothergovernor--Stauracius and Aetius are quarrelling as to his name--willtake your place."
"And I?"
"You will resume your post as captain of the private guard, only withthe rank of a full general of the army. But that I told you yesterday.It is now confirmed."
I said nothing, but a groan I could not choke broke from my lips.
"You do not seem as pleased as you might be, Olaf. Tell me, now, at whathour did you leave the palace last night? While waiting for my mistressto summon me I fell asleep in the vestibule of the ante-room, and when Iawoke and went into that room I found there the gold-broidered silk robeyou wore, cast upon the ground, and your armour gone."
"I know not what was the hour, Martina, and speak no more to me, I pray,of that accursed womanish robe."
"Which you treated but ill, Olaf, for it is spotted as though withblood."
"The Augustus spilt some wine over it."
"Aye, my mistress told me the story. Also that of how you wouldhave eaten the poisoned fig, which you snatched from the lips ofConstantine."
"And what else did your mistress tell you, Martina?"
"Not much, Olaf. She was in a very strange mood last night, and while Icombed her hair, which, Olaf, was as tangled as though a man had handledit," and she looked at me till I coloured to the eyes, "and undid herdiadem, that was set on it all awry, she spoke to me of marriage."
"Of marriage!" I gasped.
"Certainly--did I not speak the word with clearness?--of marriage."
"With whom, Martina?"
"Oh! grow not jealous before there is need, Olaf. She made no mention ofthe name of our future divine master, for whosoever can rule Irene, ifsuch a one lives, will certainly rule us also. All she said was that shewished she could find some man to guide, guard and comfort her, who grewlonely amidst many troubles, and hoped for more sons than Constantine."
"What sort of a man, Martina? This Emperor Charlemagne, or some otherking?"
"No. She vowed that she had seen enough of princes, who were murderersand liars, all of them; and that what she desired was one of good birth,no more, brave, honest, and not a fool. I asked her, too, what she wouldhave him like to look upon."
"And what did she say to that, Martina?"
"Oh! she said that he must be tall, and under forty, fair-haired andbearded, since she loved not these shaven effeminates, who look halfwoman and half priest; one who had known war, and yet was no ruffler; aperson of open mind, who had learnt and could learn more. Well, now thatI think of it, by all the Saints!--yes, much such a man as _you_ are,Olaf."
"Then she may find them in plenty," I said, with an uneasy laugh.
"Do you think so? Well, she did not, neither did I. Indeed, she pointedout that this was her trouble. Among the great of the earth she knew nosuch man, and, if she sought lower, then would come jealousies and war."
"Indeed they would. Doubtless you showed her that this was so, Martina."
"Not at all, Olaf. I asked her of what use it was to be an Empress ifshe could not please her own heart in this matter of a husband, which isone important to a woman. I said also, as for such fears, that a secretmarriage might be thought of, which is an honest business that could bedeclared when occasion came."
"And what did she answer to that, Martina?"
"She fell into high good humour, called me a faithful and a cleverfriend, gave me a handsome jewel, told me that she would have a missionfor me on the morrow--doubtless that which I now fulfil, for I haveheard of no other--said, notwithstanding all the trouble as to theAugustus and his threats, that she was sure she would sleep better thanshe had done for nights, kissed me on both cheeks, and flung herselfupon her knees at her praying-stool, where I left her. But why are youlooking so sad, Olaf?"
"Oh! I know not, save that I find life difficult, and full of pitfallswhich it is hard to escape."
Martina rested her elbows on the table and her chin upon her littlehand, staring me full in the face with her quick eyes that pierced likenails.
"Olaf," she said, "your star shines bright above you. Keep your eyesfixed thereon and follow it, and never think about the pitfalls. It maylead you I know not where."
"To heaven, perhaps," I suggested.
"Well, you did not fear to go thither when you would have eaten thepoisoned fig last night. To heaven, perchance, but by a royal road.Whatever you may think of some others, marriage is an honourable estate,my Christian friend, especially if a man marries well. And now good-bye;we shall meet again at the palace, whither you will repair to-morrowmorning. Not before, since I am engaged in directing the furnishment ofyour new quarters in the right wing, and, though the workmen labour allnight, they will not be finished until then. Good-bye, General Olaf.Your servant Martina salutes you and your star," and she curtsied beforeme until her knees almost touched the ground.