BERNICK. For fifteen years I have every day earned a clearer right—by my whole life, by all I have laboured for, by all I have achieved. LONA. Yes, you have laboured for much and achieved much, both for yourself and others. You are the richest and most influential man in the town; they have to bow before your will, all of them, because you are held to be a man without stain or flaw—your home is a model, your life is a model. But all this magnificence, and you yourself along with it, stand on a trembling quicksand. A moment may come, a word may be spoken—and, if you do not save yourself in time, you and all your grandeur go to the bottom. BERNICK. Lona—what did you come here to do? LONA. To help you to get firm ground under your feet, Karsten. BERNICK. Revenge! You want to revenge yourself. I thought as much! But you will not succeed! There is only _one_ who has a right to speak, and he is silent. LONA. Johan? BERNICK. Yes, Johan. If any one else accuses me, I shall deny everything. If you try to crush me, I shall fight for my life. You will never succeed, I tell you! He who could destroy me will not speak—and he is going away again. RUMMEL _and_ VIGELAND _enter from the right._ RUMMEL. Good-morning, good-morning, my dear Bernick. You are coming with us to the Trade Council? We have a meeting on the railway business, you know. BERNICK. I cannot. It’s impossible just now. VIGELAND. You really must, Consul—— RUMMEL. You must, Bernick. There are people working against us. Hammer and the other men who were in favour of the coast line, declare that there are private interests lurking behind the new proposal. BERNICK Why, then, explain to them—— VIGELAND. It’s no good _our_ explaining to them, Consul—— RUMMEL. No, no, you must come yourself. Of course no one will dare to suspect _you_ of anything of that sort. LONA. No, I should think not. BERNICK. I cannot, I tell you; I am unwell;—at any rate wait—let me collect myself. DOCTOR RÖRLUND _enters from the right._ RÖRLUND. Excuse me, Consul; you see me most painfully agitated—— BERNICK. Well, well, what is the matter with you? RÖRLUND. I must ask you a question, Consul Bernick. Is it with your consent that the young girl who has found an asylum under your roof shows herself in the public streets in company with a person whom——