"Of that wine I drink no more.

I dare not touch you; you grow too dear." "For those words," she whispered, "go in safety, and remember that from Irene you have naught to fear, as I know well I have naught to fear from you, O Prince among men." So presently I went.
On the following morning, as I sat in my office at the prison, setting all things in order for whoever should succeed me, Martina entered, as she 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 on it 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 Olaf have done worthy of such woes?
Nay, I come to free one from bonds, and perhaps from death, namely, a certain heretic bishop who is named Barnabas.