The Wanderer's Necklace

a very different Olaf from the young northern lord wh

udy my reflection in my own burnished shield. It shows a man of early middle life; he may be thirty or five-and-thirty years of age; the same Olaf, yet much changed. For now my frame is tall and well-knit, though still somewhat slender; my face is bronzed by southern suns; I wear a short beard; there is a scar

me. Doubtless it must have taken years, and after these more years of humble service, before I rose to be the capt

hat I had taken from the Wanderer's grave at Aar, and the other the cross-hilted bronze sword with which this same Wanderer had been girded in his grave. I know now that because of

dering how the plains of Aar looked that night beneath this selfsame moon, and whether Freydisa were dead

upon my shoulder, and swung round to find myse

as Empress, that was her Roman t

augh. "Why, any enemy, and Christ knows I have plenty, coul

t and day, men of my own blood who can be trusted. Nothing which does not fly could gain this place save through your own chambe

ts of State, for many matters trouble me just now. Come, change my mind, if you can, for if so I'll thank you. Tell me of yourself wh

a woman,"

hands; "I knew it. Tell me

-brother, and caused him to be sacrificed to the nort

u did, Olaf. Was she beau

me, save that the eyes were darker. The mouth, too, was more hard. For the rest, she was a royal-looking and lovely woman in the flower of her age, and splendidly attired in robes broidered with gold, over wh

g my poor looks against those of this northern girl in the

han ever you can have been,

, then puckered up her mouth as though to say s

live ones there are none, you are the strangest man whom I have known. Are y

at death and after it may interest us more. For the rest, you asked me a questio

you not heard, most innocent Northman, that there are tru

ugusta, but I pay no attention to any of

this-what's th

he Fair,

ch I am sure I do not wonder, what mistre

sweets too dear, and all that ever I saw put together were not w

ty of hermits of which they talk so much, who, if they see a woma

ard of them

u a Chr

g that religion-or r

a pagan

ut his head off with this sword, and that is

she said, stamping he

uard, a little of a philosopher, and a fair poet in my

. A soldier, a poet, a philosopher, a harpist, one who has renounced women! Now, why have you renounced women, which

y head an

done that long

do you always wear that strange necklace?" she added sharply. "Did it belong

it brought sorrow on her, as it will do on all

to it; it is unusual. Oh! fear n

he head as well; and my counsel to you is that you

ger me with your riddles. What

at I took it from a

jeweller who made it worked i

the woman who wears the other half of it. I have not

l you that, east or west or north o

ousand years hence. That is what I am trying to find out. You say the work is Egyptian. Augusta,

nd-not the Emperor's or anybody else's hand; mine, I say-and are c

pleases," I an

themselves sane in Byzantium. Why, there's not a man in all the city who would dare to speak to me as you have spoken to-night, and like that breeze from the sea, it is refreshing

ise not to wea

h to wear it on my bare breast after it ha

with one of those swift movements that were common to her, fastened it about her own neck. Then she re

hat dream, Olaf?" she asked, turni

y head an

t to wear the necklace. Also that your soldier, Olaf, Thorvald's son, would have given his life rather than that you

ther to protect me a little more, or a

e vanished from the terrace still w

ourite lady, who smiled as she gave it to me. She was a dark-eyed, witt

e to examine this jewel to see

gusta was a thief," I replied,

should think that it has been befouled by her wea

needed washing. Now, will you take the Augus

s in the Empire are missing. Oh! you great northern child," she added in a whisper, "keep the pearls, t

her vision concern

now what became of

ing my imprisonmen

or to Martina. Whe

r?-Ed

could answer he

-lady Martina, and went, to find her alone, save for Martina. The first thing that I noticed was that she wore about her neck an exact copy of the necklace of golden shell

I could not fail to see the shell bracelet-"the uncles of my son, the Emperor,

cle, Nicephorus-he who has been made a priest-upon the throne. I have heard further that thereon the Emperor caused the C?s

well of such

I make it my business not to think, f

, and to speak the truth of your thoughts. No

ing must be a devil, either returned from that hell of which

to be had in Constantinople and I knew where to get it. Well, most severe and indignant judge, suppos

been executed. But to torment them, to take away the sight of heaven and to bring them to the level of dumb beasts, all that their actual blood may

m her seat and clapp

to safeguard his empire, and what conscience should allow and what refuse. So, in spite of all my tears and prayers, the vile deed was done, as I think for no good cause. Well, it cannot be undone. Yet, Olaf, I fear that it may be added to, and that these royal-born men may be foully murdered. Therefore

ed to go, when Ire

oubled, for her breast heaved and her gaze was fixed upon the floor now. It was of mosaic, and represented a heathen goddess talking to a young man, who stood before her with his arms folded. T

d I saw that her fine eye

much trouble, and I know

d and a

ess seek far

I say that they would fall away like leaves from a tree in a winter frost, so that she stood naked to every bitter blast of heaven. Yes, and then would come the foe and root up that tree and burn it

as much, Aug

at else of ill have you heard of me, Olaf?

son as much as he hates you, because he is a rival to your power. It is r

tious, who see far and would build this tottering empire up

and beget others, who might be no

ant of fruits which they grow in Greece and sell here and at Rome. I wished to marry him, but my mother, a far-seeing woman, said that such beauty as mine-though less than that of your Iduna the Fair, Olaf-was worth money or rank. So they sent away my merchant of fruits, who married the daughter of another merchant of fruits and throve very well in business. He came to see me some years ago, fat as a tub, his face scored

l of God?"

pread her glittering dress before me. "Hark to the tramp of those guards before my door. Why, you are their captain. Go into the antechambers, and see the ambassadors waiting there in the hope of a word wi

eem that you are not happy. Did you not tell me just now that

priests preach is here on earth, and that I dwell in its hottest fires. Unless love hid

also, Augusta. That I k

rse of all-to love and not to be beloved. For the sake of a perfe

on, Augusta, since in this worl

e. Olaf, I told you that I have no friend in al

gusta, and I think that such

e friend to a woman unless he is-more

nderstand,"

y written on it. The old goddess of my people, Aphrodite, loved a certain Adonis-so runs the fable-but he loved not

ow nothing, but, if she had meant to kill him, the

the goddess whom he had scorned. And yet, Olaf, it is not wise to sco

rop of my blood, as is my du

n earnest of the pay," Irene said slowly, and

by heralds, that at once drew back again, entered the great minister Stauracius

ans wait upon you, Augusta, a