A madhouse, ha! BEGRIFFENFELDT. Not _now_, understand! PEER. [_Softly, pale with fear._] Now I see what the place is! And the man is mad;—and there’s none that knows it! [_Tries to steal away._ BEGRIFFENFELDT. [_Following him._] However, I hope you don’t misunderstand me? When I said he was dead, I was talking stuff. He’s beside himself. Started clean out of his skin,— Just like my compatriot Münchausen’s fox. PEER. Excuse me a moment—— BEGRIFFENFELDT. [_Holding him back._] I meant like an eel;— It was not like a fox. A needle through his eye;— And he writhed on the wall—— PEER. Where can rescue be found? BEGRIFFENFELDT. A snick round his neck, and whip! out of his skin! PEER. He’s raving! He’s utterly out of his wits! BEGRIFFENFELDT. Now it’s patent, and can’t be dissimulated, That this from-himself-going must have for result A complete revolution by sea and land. The persons one hitherto reckoned as mad, You see, became normal last night at eleven, Accordant with Reason in its newest phase. And more, if the matter be rightly regarded, It’s patent that, at the aforementioned hour, The sane folks, so called, began forthwith to rave. PEER. You mentioned the hour, sir; my time is but scant—— BEGRIFFENFELDT. Your time, did you say? There you jog my remembrance! [_Opens a door and calls out._ Come forth all! The time that shall be is proclaimed! Reason is dead and gone; long live Peer Gynt! PEER. Now, my dear good fellow——! [_The LUNATICS come one by one, and at intervals, into the courtyard._ BEGRIFFENFELDT. Good morning! Come forth, And hail the dawn of emancipation! Your Kaiser has come to you! PEER. Kaiser? BEGRIFFENFELDT. Of course! PEER. But the honour’s so great, so entirely excessive—— BEGRIFFENFELDT. Oh, do not let any false modesty sway you At an hour such as this. PEER.