Deuce take me if it isn’t the most impudent thing I ever heard of! I just looked in at Madam Rundholmen’s to have a glass of bitters. There sat Messrs. Monsen and Stensgård drinking port—filthy stuff! I wouldn’t touch it; but they might have had the decency to offer me a glass, all the same. However, Monsen turned to me and said, “What do you bet that Chamberlain Bratsberg won’t go with our party at the preliminary election to-morrow?” “Indeed,” said I, “how’s that to be managed?” “Oh,” he said, “this bill will persuade him——” FIELDBO. Bill——? LUNDESTAD. At the election——? THE CHAMBERLAIN. Well? What then? HEIRE. Oh, I know no more. They said something about two thousand dollars. That’s the figure they rate a gentleman’s conscience at! Oh, it’s abominable, I say! THE CHAMBERLAIN. A bill for two thousand dollars? RINGDAL. And Monsen has it? HEIRE. No, he handed it over to Stensgård. LUNDESTAD. Indeed! FIELDBO. To Stensgård? THE CHAMBERLAIN. Are you sure of that? HEIRE. Quite certain. “You can make what use you please of it,” he said. But I don’t understand—— LUNDESTAD. I want to speak to you, Mr. Heire—and you too, Ringdal. [_The three converse in a whisper at the back._ FIELDBO. Chamberlain! THE CHAMBERLAIN. Well? FIELDBO. Your son’s bill is genuine, of course——? THE CHAMBERLAIN. One would suppose so. FIELDBO. Of course. But now if the forged bill were to turn up——? THE CHAMBERLAIN. I will lay no information. FIELDBO. Naturally not;—but you must do more. THE CHAMBERLAIN. [_Rising._] I can do no more. FIELDBO. Yes, for heaven’s sake, you can and must. You must save the poor fellow—— THE CHAMBERLAIN. In what way? FIELDBO. Quite simply: by acknowledging the signature. THE CHAMBERLAIN. Then you think, Doctor, that we stick at nothing in our family? FIELDBO. I am trying to think for the best, Chamberlain. THE CHAMBERLAIN. And do you believe for a moment that I can tell a lie?—that I can play into the hands of forgers? FIELDBO. And do you realise what will be the consequences if you do not? THE CHAMBERLAIN.