THORD. Don't, Ingiald. You put a fellow out so. INGIALD. Where's Thorolf? Vigdis's cousin. Your cousin, Thorolf.

THORD. Ha, ha, ha! That Thorolf. Yes. An idle blackguard. Yes.

INGIALD. Yes. That Thorolf. Where is he?
THORD. I've not seen him, Ingiald.

INGIALD. I suppose you've not heard about him, either?

THORD. NO.

INGIALD. Not? Sure?

THORD. NO. I mean yes. Of course I've heard about him.

INGIALD. About what he has done to-day?

THORD. I didn't know he did anything to-day. INGIALD. You heard about my brother?

THORD. Your poor brother, Hall? Yes, I was truly grieved. I was quite upset.

INGIALD. That's what Thorolf did.

THORD. Thorolf?

THORD. Your brother?

INGIALD. I see. You won't answer.

THORD. Now don't be hasty, Ingiald. You're so hasty. You don't give me a chance. What is it you want to know?

INGIALD. Where is Thorolf?

THORD. I've not seen him, Ingiald. How should I know where Thorolf is?

INGIALD. He was seen coming towards this house.
THORD. Towards this house?

INGIALD. Only an hour ago.

INGIALD. No more talk, my friend. Where is he? THORD. I don't know, Ingiald. I don't know. INGIALD. You lying knave. You creeping worm. You dog of. I'll ram this scabbard down your throat. You say you don't know. Where is he? Any more of your lies and I'll squeeze your lying tongue off.

THORD. Don't, Ingiald. Don't. You're hurting. Don't, man.

INGIALD. Well. No more of your lies, then. THORD. Now you've hurt me. I shall have a sore , throat for a week.

INGIALD. Do you good. [A pause.] Now then, Thorolf's here. Isn't he? Hey?

THORD. Yes, Ingiald.

INGIALD. I thought we should come to it sooner or later. See what comes of being patient. So he's here. Hidden somewhere?

THORD. Yes, Ingiald.

INGIALD. Where is he hidden?

THORD. O, but I couldn't tell you that. If I told you that I'd have to leave the country. No one would speak to me, if I told you that.

INGIALD. That's nothing to do with me. Now then. Where is he?

THORD. O, I couldn't.

INGIALD. Hey?

THORD. I'd have to leave this farm. Have mercy, Ingiald.

INGIALD. Mercy, eh?

THORD. I couldn't bear it. I'm not strong, Ingiald. My head.

INGIALD. D'ye see this little knife of mine?

THORD. O, don't, Ingiald. Ingiald, you don't mean. Ingiald, I'd have to leave the country if I told you.

INGIALD. Look here, Thord. I'm going to get Thorolf before I go. Let's understand each other.

THORD. O, yes, Ingiald. I'll do anything. I'll say anything. But I can't tell you where he is. I can't. I'd have to leave the country.

INGIALD. Well. You needn't tell me where he is. Not in so many words. D'ye understand?

THORD. O, Ingiald.

INGIALD. Let's come to some arrangement. You don't want your neighbours to call you a traitor. I understand that. You don't want me to burn your house down, or to stick this knife into you. I understand that, too. Well. You give up Thorolf to me quietly.

THORD. I can't, Ingiald. They'd know. They'd know. Vigdis would tell them.

INGIALD. I don't say "betray him," you silly gowk. THORD. But what then, Ingiald?

INGIALD. Give me some hint where he is, so that I can find him. I'll pretend to search the house, and light on him, as it were, by chance. Come now. THORD. But —

INGIALD. Come now. D'ye see this bag? [Produces a purse.]

THORD. Yes.

INGIALD. D'ye hear it? Eh? Chink. Eh?

Chink? Where is he?

THORD. I couldn't.

INGIALD. Come now.

Hark? Three silver marks.

Eh? Just whisper. Where? Come now.

THORD. Three silver marks.

INGIALD.

right out.

Three silver marks. You needn't say Hear it jingle.

THORD. It's a lot of money.

it

INGIALD. You could do with it, eh? Come now,

old man, where is he?

THORD. Let me weigh it in my hand.

INGIALD. Certainly. Here you are. Now then. Whisper here. Where is he? Tell me where he is. Where is he? Is he in the chest here?

THORD. No, not in the chest.

INGIALD. No? What is in the chest?

THORD. Things of Vigdis's.

INGIALD. Is he upstairs, then? Eh? Upstairs?

THORD. NO. He's not upstairs.

INGIALD. Outside? Eh?

THORD [putting the bag on the table]. Ingiald.

INGIALD. Yes. Well. What is it?

THORD. You Won't take it to heart my hiding him?

INGIALD. No. No. Of course I won't.

THORD. Swear you won't. You won't fine me? Nor take my cattle?

INGIALD. Not if you tell me where he is.

THORD. You'll search the house first, Ingiald. In pretence?

INGIALD. Yes. I'll pretend to search the house. And then?

THORD. You see that door there?

INGIALD. Yes. Yes. What then?

THORD. You must go through that door. No. No. Go through this door, and then round the house. INGIALD. Yes? Where to? Among the ricks? THORD. NO. Not among the ricks.

INGIALD. In the dairy?

THORD. You might look in the dairy.
INGIALD. Where else, eh?

THORD. Just to the left of the dairy.

INGIALD. The cowbyre, eh?

THORD. No. No. You might look in the cowbyre,

though.

INGIALD. Where else?

THORD. Ingiald.

INGIALD. Yes.

THORD. Swear you won't tell any one.

won't say I told you.

INGIALD. Of course I won't tell any one.

Swear you

THORD. You might count the sheep. You understand?

INGIALD. To the left of the dairy, eh?

THORD. To the left of the dairy.

INGIALD. I'll see them counted. Thank'ee, Thord.

THORD. NOW, you'll pretend to look upstairs?

INGIALD. Yes. We'll let in Vigdis, now.

THORD. No, not Vigdis, no.

INGIALD. Yes, man. Hey there. Erik!
ERIK. Sir.

INGIALD. Tell the lady to come in.

ERIK. Tell the lady to come in, sir. You may go

in now, mum. [Enter VIGDIS.]

VIGDIS. Well. Have you had a nice talk?

INGIALD. No. Not so nice as I could have wished, perhaps. Your husband's very low to-night. Excuse me a moment. Hi there, Hrapp, Hoskuld. SOLDIERS [entering]. Sir. Sir.

INGIALD. I'm sorry, Vigdis. But I must search the house. Your husband has given me permission. I must look through all the rooms.