A most unfortunate punctilio. He’ll keep his word; his stubbornness I know. In the Gazette he’ll put us all by name; My love will figure under leaded headings, With jilts, and twins, and countermanded weddings. Listen; I tell you, if it weren’t for shame, I would propose an armistice, a truce— MRS. HALM. You think he would be willing? STIVER. I deduce The fact from certain signs, which indicate That his tall talk about his Amor’s News Was uttered in a far from sober state. One proof especially, if not transcendent, Yet tells most heavily against defendant: It has been clearly proved that after dinner To his and Lind’s joint chamber he withdrew, And there displayed such singular demeanour As leaves no question— GULDSTAD. [_Sees a glimpse of_ FALK _and_ SVANHILD, _who separate_, FALK _going to the background_; SVANHILD _remains standing hidden by the summer-house._ Hold, we have the clue! Madam, one word!—Falk does not mean to go, Or if he does, he means it as a friend. STIVER. How, you believe then—? MRS. HALM. What do you intend? GULDSTAD. With the least possible delay I’ll show That matters move precisely as you would. Merely a word in private— MRS. HALM. Very good. [_They go together into the garden and are seen from time to time in lively conversation._ STIVER. [_Descending into the garden discovers_ FALK, _who is standing by the water and gazing over it._ These poets are mere men of vengeance, we State servants understand diplomacy. I need to labour for myself— [_Seeing_ STRAWMAN, _who enters from the garden-room._ Well met! STRAWMAN [_on the verandah_]. He’s really leaving! [_Going down to_ STIVER. Ah, my dear sir, let Me beg you just a moment to go in And hold my wife— STIVER. I—hold her, sir? STRAWMAN. I mean In talk. The little ones and we are so Unused to be divided, there is no Escaping—