HILMAR. Why, this is——Betty, Betty! BERNICK. What now? Are they coming already? HILMAR. No, no; but I must speak to some one at once—— [_He goes out by the second door on the left._ LONA. Karsten, you say we came to crush you. Then let me tell you what stuff he is made of, this prodigal whom your moral society shrinks from as if he were plague-stricken. He can do without you all, for he has gone away. BERNICK. But he is coming back—— LONA. Johan will never come back. He has gone for ever, and Dina has gone with him. BERNICK. Gone for ever? And Dina with him? LONA. Yes, to be his wife. That is how these two strike your seraphic society in the face, as I once——No matter! BERNICK. Gone!—she too! In the _Indian Girl_? LONA. No; he dared not entrust such a precious freight to a ship with so ruffianly a crew. Johan and Dina have sailed in the _Palm Tree_. BERNICK. Ah! Then it was—to no purpose——[_Rushes to the door of his office, tears it open, and calls in._] Krap, stop the _Indian Girl_! She mustn’t sail to-night! KRAP. [_Inside._] The _Indian Girl_ is already standing out to sea, Consul. BERNICK. [_Shuts the door and says feebly._] Too late—and all for nothing. LONA. What do you mean? BERNICK. Nothing, nothing. Leave me alone——! LONA. H’m. Listen, Karsten. Johan told me to tell you that he leaves in my keeping the good name he once lent you, and also that which you stole from him while he was far away. Johan will be silent; and I can do or let alone in this matter as I will. See, I hold in my hand your two letters. BERNICK. You have them! And now—now you will—this very night perhaps—when the procession—— LONA. I did not come here to unmask you, but to try if I could not move you to throw off the mask of your own accord. I have failed. Remain standing in the lie. See; I tear your two letters to shreds. Take the pieces; here they are. Now, there is nothing to bear witness against you, Karsten. Now you are safe; be happy too—if you can. BERNICK. [_Profoundly moved._] Lona, why did you not do this before! It is too late now; my whole life is ruined now; I cannot live after to-day. LONA. What has happened? BERNICK.