Modern Icelandic Plays Part 8

It must have been Arnes.

_Bjrn._

Is he spending the night here?

_Halla._

Yes.

_Bjrn._

It is no concern of mine, but I doubt if my late brother would have sheltered men of his kind, and yet he had the name of being hospitable.

(_Takes a snuff-box from his pocket._)

_Halla (sitting down)._

I know nothing wrong of Arnes, and I do know that he is grateful for what I can offer him.

_Bjrn._

I thought you had heard the common talk. His record is not of the best, I am sorry to say. I have been told that little things are apt to be missing where he has made his stay.

_Halla._

I would rather bear such a loss in silence than perhaps throw suspicion on an innocent man.

_Bjrn._

Finely thought! Yet some one must be the first to warn the unwary.

(_Takes snuff._) You must hear what happened to me not long ago. The boy lost two milch sheep up in the hills. I was vexed that it should occur so early in the summer when they still had their wool, and therefore I sent one of my men to look for them. Near Red Peak he found tracks of the sheep and also the footprints of a large man. (_Lowering his voice._) You could do me a good turn if you would give Arnes a pair of new shoes; I should pay for them, of course. He will not suspect anything, if you do it. Then you keep his old shoes for me.

_Halla (rising)._

No, I will have nothing to do with that.

_Bjrn._

Then we shan't speak of it any more. I think I shall find out what I am after, nevertheless. (_He is silent._)

_Halla._

You surely didn't come here to-night for Arnes's sake?

_Bjrn._

I did not. Was Kari at church last Sunday?

_Halla._

Why do you ask?

_Bjrn._

I know that he was there. (_Sits down._) You are satisfied with him as an overseer?

_Halla (sits down)._

In every way.

_Bjrn._

All the same, I advise you to get rid of him, the sooner the better.

_Halla (laughing)._

I thank you for your kind advice.

_Bjrn._

My advice is not to be scorned, and besides, am I not your brother-in-law?

_Halla._

My sheep had to learn that to their cost, when they strayed in on your pastures, and you set your dogs on them.

_Bjrn._

Even though we have not always been as neighborly as I might wish, you must listen to me this time. I have always disliked Kari; I would never have hired that man. Believe me, there is something underhanded about him. n.o.body knows him, and no one has heard of his people. It is as if he had shot up out of the ground. The only thing you know about him is that his name is Kari, and you don't even know that.

_Halla (rising)._

What are you driving at with all this?

_Bjrn._

Sit still. (_Halla sits down._) Last fall two strangers who stopped on their journey through here thought they knew Kari. They said it was easier to change one's name than one's face. As bad luck would have it, I did not get a chance to talk with them myself, but my suspicions were roused. Now there is a man staying with me who has just come from the south. He saw Kari at church last Sunday, and if he is right, it is an ugly story.

_Halla._

What do you mean?

_Bjrn (rising)._

Neither more nor less than that your overseer's name is not Kari but Eyvind, that he was locked up for theft, and got away.

_Halla (has risen)._

You must be mad, both of you.