Then I said that Olaf had doubtless given you the weapon, and he would have me ask you.

He thought that you should not have lightly set aside my gift." Now I was sure that the earl strove to break Eadmund's friendship with Olaf, for to anger me would help to do so.

The next thing would be to have me made away with, for that would turn Olaf into a foe, and he would leave England maybe.

I thought that the earl would stand alone in Eadmund's counsels, and did not dream yet that he was indeed working for Cnut in order to take the first place in England as Thorkel did in Denmark.

But that was plain enough ere long, and all men know it now.