Whate'er they did I ordered them to do." "Had I known it, Augusta, I would never have drawn sword, who am your officer and obedient to the end." "Nay, you'd stab me with your tongue, not with your sword," she answered with something like a sob.

"You say you are my obedient officer.

Well, now we will see.

Smite me that bold-faced baggage dead, or smite _me_ dead, I care not which, then fall upon your sword." "The first I cannot do, Augusta, for it would be murder against one who has done no wrong, and I will not stain my soul with murder." "Done no wrong! Has she not mocked me, my years, my widowhood, yes, and even my hair, in the pride of her--her youth, me, the Empress of the World ?" Now Heliodore spoke for the first time.
"And has not the Empress of the World called a poor maid of blood as noble as her own by shameful names ?" she asked.
"For the second," I went on before Irene could answer, "I cannot do that either, for it would be foul treason as well as murder to lift my sword against your anointed Majesty.

But as for the third, as is my duty, that I will do--or rather suffer your servants to do--if it pleases you to repeat the order later when you are calm." "What!" cried Heliodore, "would you go and leave me here?
Then, Olaf, by the gods my forefathers worshipped for ten thousand years, and by the gods I worship, I'll find a means to follow you within an hour.