And Torarin, who was so poor that he hardly ever had a silver
piece in his pocket, said to himself: "And yet I would not have
all that money. They say Herr Arne took it from the great convents
that were in the land in former days, and that the old monks
foretold that this money would bring him misfortune."

While yet these thoughts were in the mind of Torarin, he saw the
old mistress of the house put her hand to her ear to listen. And
then she turned to Herr Arne and asked him: "Why are they whetting
knives at Branehog?"

So deep was the silence in the room that when the old lady asked
this question all gave a start and looked up in fright. When they
saw that she was listening for something, they kept their spoons
quiet and strained their ears.

For some moments there was dead stillness in the room, but while
it lasted the old woman became more and more uneasy. She laid her
hand on Herr Arne's arm and asked him: "How can it be that they
are whetting such long knives at Branehog this evening?"

Torarin saw that Herr Arne stroked her hand to calm her. But he
was in no mind to answer and ate on calmly as before.

The old woman still sat listening. Tears came into her eyes from
terror, and her hands and her head trembled more and more
violently.

Then the two little maids who sat at the end of the table began to