Then what does it matter whether such a society is supported or not? What is it that passes current here? Lies and shams—nothing else. Here are you, the first man in the town, prosperous, powerful, looked up to by every one—you, who have set the brand of crime upon an innocent man. BERNICK. Do you think I do not feel deeply the wrong I have done him? Do you think I am not prepared to atone for it? LONA. How? By speaking out? BERNICK. Can you ask me to do that? LONA. How else can you atone for such a wrong? BERNICK. I am rich, Lona; Johan may ask for what he pleases—— LONA. Yes, offer him money, and you’ll see what he will answer. BERNICK. Do you know what he intends to do? LONA. No. Since yesterday he has said nothing to me. It seems as if all this had suddenly made a full-grown man of him. BERNICK. I must speak to him. LONA. Then here he is. JOHAN TÖNNESEN _enters from the right._ BERNICK. [_Going towards him._] Johan——! JOHAN. [_Waving him off._] Let _me_ speak first. Yesterday morning I gave you my word to be silent. BERNICK. You did. JOHAN. But I did not know then—— BERNICK. Johan, let me in two words explain the circumstances—— JOHAN. There is no necessity; I understand the circumstances very well. Your house was in a difficult position; and I was far away, and you had my unprotected name and fame to do what you liked with——Well, I don’t blame you so much for it; we were young and thoughtless in those days. But now I need the truth, and now you must speak out. BERNICK. And just at this moment I require all my moral authority, and therefore I _cannot_ speak out. JOHAN. I don’t care so much about the falsehoods you have trumped up at my expense; it is the other thing that you must take upon your own shoulders. Dina shall be my wife, and I will live here, here in this town, along with her. LONA. You will? BERNICK. With Dina! As your wife? Here, in this town? JOHAN. Yes, just here; I will stay here to outface all these liars and backbiters. And that I may win her, you must set me free. BERNICK.