THE CHAMBERLAIN. Ah, that was what you meant? FIELDBO. Not in the least! My dear Chamberlain, let me speak to him alone—— STENSGÅRD. Nonsense; I have nothing to speak to _you_ about. Now, pray be reasonable, Chamberlain! A family like yours needs new alliances, or its brains stagnate—— THE CHAMBERLAIN. Oh, this is too much! STENSGÅRD. Now, now, don’t get angry! These high-and-mighty airs are unworthy of you—of course you know they are all nonsense at bottom. You shall see how much you’ll value me when you come to know me. Yes, yes; you _shall_ value me—both you and your daughter! I will make her—— THE CHAMBERLAIN. What do you think of this, Doctor? FIELDBO. I think it’s madness. STENSGÅRD. Yes, it would be in you; but I, you see—I have a mission to fulfil on God’s beautiful earth;—I am not to be deterred by nonsensical prejudices. THE CHAMBERLAIN. Mr. Stensgård, there is the door. STENSGÅRD. You show me——? THE CHAMBERLAIN. The door! STENSGÅRD. Don’t do that! THE CHAMBERLAIN. Out with you! You are an adventurer, an a—a—confound my memory! You’re a—— STENSGÅRD. What am I? THE CHAMBERLAIN. You are—that other thing—it’s on the tip of my tongue—— STENSGÅRD. Beware how you block my career! THE CHAMBERLAIN. Beware? Of what? STENSGÅRD. I will attack you in the papers, persecute you, libel you, do all I can to undermine your reputation. You shall shriek under the lash. You shall seem to see spirits in the air raining blows upon you. You shall huddle together in dread, and crouch with your arms bent over your head to ward off the strokes—you shall try to creep into shelter—— THE CHAMBERLAIN. Creep into shelter yourself—in a madhouse; that is the proper place for you! STENSGÅRD. Ha-ha; that is a cheap retort; but you know no better, Mr. Bratsberg! I tell you the wrath of the Lord is in me. It is His will you are opposing. He has destined me for the light—beware how you cast a shadow!—Well, I see I shall make no way with you to-day; but that matters nothing. I only ask you to speak to your daughter—to prepare her—to give her the opportunity of choosing! Reflect, and look around you. Where can you expect to find a son-in-law among these plodding dunces? Fieldbo says she is deep and steadfast and true. So now you know just how matters stand. Good-bye, Chamberlain—I leave you to choose between my friendship and my enmity. Good-bye!