"A hundred? Hm. Certainly. But you will have to come with me to the office; I haven't got the money here." In the office he handed her the bill; his hand was trembling violently. "Here is the money," he said. "Thanks--Why are you trembling?" she asked. "Oh--I suppose because I have held the tiller so long--Hm. Listen, Hanka, I have a pleasant surprise for you! You have asked me a number of times to consent to a divorce; I have decided in God's name to do what you ask--You understand, I am not going to oppose you any more." She could hardly believe her ears. Did he agree to a divorce? She gazed at him; he was deathly pale, his eyes were lowered. They were standing opposite each other, the large desk between them. He continued: "Circumstances are different now--My big speculation has failed; even if I am not a bankrupt this moment, I am a poor man. I may avoid closing up shop, but that will be all. Anyway, I shall not be able to keep up this mode of life. And, this being so, I feel that I have no right to interfere with your plans and desires any longer." His words reached her as from afar. For a moment she felt a vague sensation of happiness--she was free; she would escape the yoke that had become oppressive; she would be a girl once more! Hanka Lange--imagine, only Hanka Lange! And when she realised that her husband was almost a bankrupt it did not greatly upset her; he had said he might not be forced to shut down. Of course, he was not wealthy, but neither was he a beggar; it might have been a great deal worse. "Is that so?" she said simply; "is that so?" Pause. Tidemand had regained his composure; he stood again as he had stood aboard the yacht; one could almost see the tiller in his hand. His eyes were on her. She had not said no; her intentions were evidently not shaken. Well, he had hardly expected that they would be. He said: "Well, that was all I wanted to tell you." His voice was remarkably even, almost commanding; she thought: "He has not spoken to me like that in three years." His strength was marvellous to behold. "Well, do you really want to?" she asked. "You think, then, that we ought to separate? Of course, but--I hope you have thought it over--that you are not doing this simply to please me?" "It goes without saying that I do it to please you," he answered. "You have requested it often enough, and I sincerely regret that I have opposed you until now." And he added without a trace of malice: "You must forgive me for having interfered with your wishes so long." She grew attentive at once. "I don't know what you mean," she said a trifle haughtily. He did not care about that and did not answer. Hadn't she spoken about a divorce time and time again? Hadn't he put her off? Perfectly composed, he opened his coat and took out his pocket calendar, in which he proceeded to make an entry. She could not help being impressed by this quiet superiority, which she never before had noticed in him; she happened to say: