_Botolf_.--Let all bells of the church be rung.
_Kolbein_.--Wait an instant, my lord! The eyes of the man are unchanged. Let him prove that he can see.
_Helgi_.--Ay, let him do that, my lord! Let the man prove that he can see, so that Thomas be made to believe.
_Kolbein_ (_aside_).--Hand me a parchment, Haf! (HAF _takes a scroll out of a box in the choir and reaches it over to him_.) You were blind, then, when I spoke to you before?
_Illugi_.--I am born blind, my lord! But now it seems to me I can see all that others see.
_Kolbein_.--I have still my doubts about that (_holding the parchment before_ ILLUGI). Are you able to see what this is?
_Kolbein_.--And can you discern what is there written?
_Illugi_.--I can see the letters clearly.
_Kolbein_.--That you could say, although you could not see them.
_Illugi_ (_reads_).--'And when St. John was arrayed in his pontifical robes, ready for burial--'
_Kolbein_.--How is it possible that you who are born blind have learned to read?
(ILLUGI _remains silent, greatly frightened_.)
_Helgi_.--O miraculum magnum! Holy Bishop Gudmund has imparted to him the art of reading!
_Illugi_.--The glorious saint appeared to me last night in a dream and taught me to read, so that I might prove to-day that my eyes can see.
_Kolbein_.--In that case more forethought was shown by Bishop Gudmund than he was accustomed to show when he was alive.
(BISHOP BOTOLF _becomes uneasy_; KOLBEIN's _men look at each other smiling_.)
_Helgi_.--The revelation of the saintliness of Holy Bishop Gudmund has affected me so much, my lord, that I forgot to have all the bells of the church rung. (_Intends to leave_.)
_Botolf_.--Wait with that a little while, Helgi.
_Haf_.--They will ring of themselves when the time has come.
(ILLUGI _remains silent, as to all following questions. The boy always looks at him first before answering, making reply only when he sees that_ ILLUGI _remains silent_.)
_The Boy_.--From the Hornstrands, my lord!
_Kolbein_.--What was Thord Kakali about when you left?
_Kolbein_.--You must have remained over night at Bolstadarhlid before you ascended the Vatnsskard.
_Kolbein_.--Did yeoman Jon send me no message by you?
_The Boy_.--No, my lord, yeoman Jon sent no message by us.