STENSGÅRD. How dare the old scoundrel——? HEIRE. Come, come, come! Keep your temper. Very likely it was a mere figure of speech—a harmless little joke, I have no doubt. You can demand an explanation to-morrow; for I suppose you are going to the great dinner-party, eh? STENSGÅRD. I am not going to any dinner-party. HEIRE. Two calls and no invitation——! STENSGÅRD. Demagogue and adventurer! What can he be thinking of? MONSEN. Look there! Talk of the devil——! Come, Bastian. [_Goes off with_ BASTIAN. STENSGÅRD. What did he mean by it, Mr. Heire? HEIRE. Haven’t the ghost of an idea.—It pains you? Your hand, young man! Pardon me if my frankness has wounded you. Believe me, you have yet many bitter lessons to learn in this life. You are young; you are confiding; you are trustful. It is beautiful; it is even touching; but—but—trustfulness is silver, experience is gold: that’s a proverb of my own invention, sir! God bless you! [_Goes._ CHAMBERLAIN BRATSBERG, _his daughter_ THORA, _and_ DOCTOR FIELDBO _enter from the left._ LUNDESTAD. [_Strikes the bell on the rostrum._] Silence for Mr. Ringdal’s speech! STENSGÅRD. [_Shouts._] Mr. Lundestad, I demand to be heard! LUNDESTAD. Afterwards. STENSGÅRD. No, now! at once! LUNDESTAD. You can’t speak just now. Silence for Mr. Ringdal! RINGDAL. [_On the rostrum._] Ladies and gentlemen! We have at this moment the honour of seeing in our midst the man with the warm heart and the open hand—the man we have all looked up to for many a year, as to a father—the man who is always ready to help us, both in word and deed—the man whose door is never closed to any reputable citizen—the man who—who—ladies and gentlemen, our honoured guest is no lover of long speeches; so, without more words, I call for three cheers for Chamberlain Bratsberg and his family! Long life to them! Hurrah! THE CROWD. Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! [_Great enthusiasm; people press around the_ CHAMBERLAIN, _who thanks them and shakes hands with those nearest him._ STENSGÅRD. Now may I speak? LUNDESTAD. By all means. The platform is at your service. STENSGÅRD. [_Jumps upon the table._] I shall choose my own platform! THE YOUNG MEN. [_Crowding around him._] Hurrah!