Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (136 page)

LUNDESTAD.
What?

STENSGARD.
The game is not lost, Mr. Lundestad!
[Sits at the right-hand table and writes.]

LUNDESTAD
[in a low voice.]
Oh, Aslaksen — can you get something into your next paper for me?

ASLAKSEN.
Of course I can. Is it libellous?

LUNDESTAD.
No, certainly not!

ASLAKSEN.
Well, never mind; Ill take it all the same.

LUNDESTAD.
It is my political last will and testament; I shall write it to-night.

A MAID-SERVANT
[enters from the left.]
The punch, with Madam Rundholmen’s compliments.

ASLAKSEN.
Hurrah! Now there’s some life in the local situation.
[He places the punch-bowl on the middle table, serves the others, and drinks freely himself during the following scene. BASTIAN MONSEN has meanwhile entered from the right.]

BASTIAN
[softly.]
You won’t forget my letter?

ASLAKSEN.
Don’t be afraid.
[Taps his breast pocket.]
I have it here.

BASTIAN.
You’ll deliver it as soon as you can — when you see she’s disengaged, you understand.

ASLAKSEN.
I understand.
[Calls.]
Come, now, the glasses are filled.

BASTIAN.
You shan’t do it for nothing, I promise you.

ASLAKSEN.
All right, all right.
[To the servant.]
A lemon, Karen — quick as the wind!
[BASTIAN retires.]

STENSGARD.
A word, Aslaksen; shall you be passing here to-morrow evening?

ASLAKSEN.
To-morrow evening? I can, if you like.

STENSGARD.
Then you might look in and give Madam Rundholmen this letter.

ASLAKSEN.
From you?

STENSGARD.
Yes. Put it in your pocket. There now. To-morrow evening, then?

ASLAKSEN.
All right; trust to me.
[The servant brings the lemon; STENSGARD goes towards the window.]

BASTIAN.
Well — have you spoken to Madam Rundholmen?

STENSGARD.
Spoken? Oh yes, I said a word or two —

BASTIAN.
And what do you think?

STENSGARD.
Oh — well — we were interrupted. I can’t say anything definite.

BASTIAN.
I’ll take my chance all the same; she’s always complaining of her loneliness. My fate shall be sealed within an hour.

STENSGARD.
Within an hour?

BASTIAN
[sees MADAM RUNDHOLMEN, who enters from the left.]
Sh! Not a word to any one!
[Goes towards the back.]

STENSGARD
[whispers to ASLAKSEN.]
Give me back the letter.

ASLAKSEN.
Do you want it back?

STENSGARD.
Yes, at once; I shall deliver it myself.

ASLAKSEN.
Very well; here it is. STENSGARD thrusts the letter into his pocket, and mixes with the rest.

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN
[to BASTIAN.]
What do you say to the election, Mr. Bastian?

BASTIAN.
I’m delighted. Stensgard and I are bosom friends, you know. I shouldn’t be surprised if he got into Parliament.

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
But your father wouldn’t much like that.

BASTIAN.
Oh, father has so many irons in the fire. Besides, if Stensgard’s elected, it will still be all in the family, I daresay.

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
How so?

BASTIAN.
He wants to marry —

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Lord! Has he said anything?

BASTIAN.
Yes; and I’ve promised to put in a word for him. It’ll be all right. I’m sure Ragna likes him.

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Ragna!

LUNDESTAD
[approaching.]
What is interesting you so deeply, Madam Rundholmen?

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
What do you think he says? Why, that Mr. Stensgard’s making up to —

LUNDESTAD.
Yes, but he won’t find the Chamberlain so easy to deal with.

BASTIAN.
The Chamberlain?

LUNDESTAD.
He probably thinks her too good a match for a mere lawyer —

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Who? Who?

LUNDESTAD.
Why, his daughter, Miss Bratsberg, of course.

BASTIAN.
He’s surely not making love to Miss Bratsberg?

LUNDESTAD.
Yes, indeed he is.

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
You are quite sure of that?

BASTIAN.
And he told me — ! Oh, I want to say a word to you!
[LUNDESTAD and BASTIAN go towards the back.]

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN
[approaching STENSGARD.]
You must be on your guard, Mr. Stensgard.

STENSGARD.
Against whom?

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Against malicious people who are slandering you.

STENSGARD.
Why, let them — so long as one person doesn’t believe their slanders.

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
And who may that one person be?

STENSGARD
[slips the letter into her hand.]
Take this; read it when you are alone.

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Ah, I knew it!
[Goes off to the left.]

RINGDAL
[enters from the right.]
Well, I hear you have won a brilliant victory, Mr. Stensgard.

STENSGARD.
Yes, I have, Mr. Ringdal, in spite of your noble chief’s endeavours.

RINGDAL
His endeavours? What to do?

STENSGARD.
To keep me out.

RINGDAL
Like other people, he has a right to vote as he pleases.

STENSGARD.
It’s a pity he is not likely to retain that right for long.

RINGDAL
What do you mean?

STENSGARD.
I mean, since his affairs are not so straight as they might be —

RINGDAL
His affairs! What affairs! What have you got into your head?

STENSGARD.
Oh, you needn’t pretend ignorance. Isn’t there a storm brewing? — a great crash impending?

RINGDAL
Yes, so I hear on all sides.

STENSGARD.
And aren’t both the Bratsbergs involved in it?

RINGDAL
My dear sir, are you crazy?

STENSGARD.
Oh, you naturally want to keep it dark.

RINGDAL
What good would that be? That sort of thing can’t be kept dark.

STENSGARD.
Is it not true then?

RINGDAL
Not a word of it, so far as the Chamberlain is concerned. How could you believe such nonsense? Who has been humbugging you?

STENSGARD.
I won’t tell you just yet.

RINGDAL
Well, you needn’t; but whoever it was must have had a motive.

STENSGARD.
A motive — !

RINGDAL
Yes, just think: is there no one who has an interest in keeping you and the Chamberlain apart?

STENSGARD.
Yes, on my soul, but there is though!

RINGDAL
The Chamberlain in reality thinks very highly of you —

STENSGARD.
Does he?

RINGDAL
Yes, and that’s why people want to make mischief between you. They reckon on your ignorance of the situation, on your impulsiveness and your confiding disposition —

STENSGARD.
Oh, the vipers! And Madam Rundholmen has my letter!

RINGDAL
What letter?

STENSGARD.
Oh, nothing. But it’s not too late! My dear Mr. Ringdal, shall you see the Chamberlain this evening?

RINGDAL
In all probability.

STENSGARD.
Then tell him to think no more of those threats — he will understand; tell him I shall call to-morrow and explain everything.

RINGDAL
You’ll call?

STENSGARD.
Yes, to prove to him — Ah, a proof! Look here, Mr. Ringdal; will you give the Chamberlain this bill from me?

RINGDAL
This bill — ?

STENSGARD.
Yes; it’s a matter I can’t explain to you; but just you give it to him —

RINGDAL
Upon my word, Mr. Stensgard —

STENSGARD.
And just add these words from me: This is how I treat those who vote against me!

RINGDAL
I shan’t forget.
[Goes out at the back.]

STENSGARD.
I say, Mr. Heire — how could you go and palm off that story about the Chamberlain upon me?

HEIRE.
How could I palm it off on you — ?

STENSGARD.
Yes — it’s a lie from beginning to end.

HEIRE.
No! Is it indeed? I’m delighted to hear it. Do you hear, Mr. Lundestad? It’s all a lie about the Chamberlain.

LUNDESTAD.
Sh! We were on a false scent; it’s nearer at hand.

STENSGARD.
How nearer at hand?

LUNDESTAD.
I know nothing for certain; but they talk of Madam Rundholmen —

STENSGARD.
What!

HEIRE.
Haven’t I prophesied it! She has been too much mixed up with our friend at Stonelee —

LUNDESTAD.
He drove off this morning before daylight —

HEIRE.
And his family is out hunting for him —

LUNDESTAD.
And the son has been doing all he knows to get his sister provided for —

STENSGARD.
Provided for! “To-morrow” she said; and then her anxiety about her father — !

HEIRE.
Hee-hee! You’ll see he’s gone and hanged himself, sir!

ASLAKSEN.
Has any one hanged himself?

LUNDESTAD.
Mr. Heire says Monsen of Stonelee —

MONSEN
[enters from the back.]
A dozen of champagne!

ASLAKSEN
and Others. Monsen!

MONSEN.
Yes, Monsen! Champagne-Monsen! Money- Monsen! Let’s have the wine, confound it all!

HEIRE.
But, my dear sir —

STENSGARD.
Why, where have you dropped from?

MONSEN.
I’ve been doing a stroke of business, sir! Cleared a hundred thousand! Hei! To-morrow I’ll give a thundering dinner at Stonelee. I invite you all. Champagne, I say! I congratulate you, Stensgard! I hear you’re elected.

STENSGARD.
Yes; I must explain to you —

MONSEN.
Pooh; what does it matter to me? Wine, I say! Where is Madam Rundholmen?
[Makes a motion to go out to the left.]

THE MAID-
servant
[who has just entered, intercepts him]
. No one can see the mistress just now; she’s got a letter —

BASTIAN.
Oh, damn it all!
[Goes out by the back.]

STENSGARD.
Is she reading it?

SERVANT.
Yes; and it seems quite to have upset her.

STENSGARD.
Good-bye, Mr. Monsen; dinner at Stonelee to-morrow — ?

MONSEN.
Yes, to-morrow. Good-bye!

STENSGARD
[whispers.]
Mr. Heire, will you do me a service?

HEIRE.
Certainly, certainly.

STENSGARD.
Then just run me down a little to Madam Rundholmen; indulge in an innuendo or two at my expense. You are so good at that sort of thing.

HEIRE.
What the deuce is the meaning of this?

STENSGARD.
I have my reasons. It’s a joke, you know — a wager with — with some one you have a grudge against.