RÖRLUND. She _shall_ know it! Dina, it was this man who caused all your mother’s misfortune and shame. BERNICK. Rector——! DINA. He! [_To_ JOHAN.] Is this true? JOHAN. Karsten, do _you_ answer! BERNICK. Not a word more! Not a word more to-day! DINA. Then it is true. RÖRLUND. True, true! And more than that. This person, in whom you were about to place your trust, did not run away empty-handed—Mrs. Bernick’s strong-box—the Consul can bear witness! LONA. Liar! BERNICK. Ah——! MRS. BERNICK. Oh God! oh God! JOHAN. [_Goes towards him with uplifted arm._] You dare to——! LONA. [_Keeping him back._] Don’t strike him, Johan. RÖRLUND. Yes, yes; assault me if you like. But the truth shall out; and this is the truth. Consul Bernick has said so himself; it is notorious to the whole town.—Now, Dina, now you know him. [_A short pause._ JOHAN. [_Softly seizing_ BERNICK’S _arm._] Karsten, Karsten, what have you done? MRS. BERNICK. [_Softly, in tears._] Oh, Karsten, that I should bring all this shame upon you! SANDSTAD. [_Enters hastily from the right, and says, with his hand still on the door-handle._] You must really come now, Consul! The whole railway is hanging by a thread. BERNICK. [_Absently._] What is it? What am I to——? LONA. [_Earnestly and with emphasis._] You are to rise and support society, brother-in-law! SANDSTAD. Yes, come, come; we need all your moral predominance. JOHAN. [_Close to him._] Bernick, we two will talk of this to-morrow. [_He goes out through the garden;_ BERNICK _goes out to the right with_ SANDSTAD, _as if his will were paralysed._ ACT THIRD. _The garden-room in_ CONSUL BERNICK’S _house._ BERNICK, _with a cane in his hand, enters, in a violent passion, from the second room on the left, leaving the door half open._ BERNICK.