BASTIAN. I’ll take my chance all the same; she’s always complaining of her loneliness. My fate shall be sealed within an hour. STENSGÅRD. Within an hour? BASTIAN. [_Sees_ MADAM RUNDHOLMEN, _who enters from the left._] Sh! Not a word to any one! [_Goes towards the back._ STENSGÅRD. [_Whispers to_ ASLAKSEN.] Give me back the letter. ASLAKSEN. Do you want it back? STENSGÅRD. Yes, at once; I shall deliver it myself. ASLAKSEN. Very well; here it is. [STENSGÅRD _thrusts the letter into his pocket, and mixes with the rest._ MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. [_To_ BASTIAN.] What do you say to the election, Mr. Bastian? BASTIAN. I’m delighted. Stensgård and I are bosom friends, you know. I shouldn’t be surprised if he got into Parliament. MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. But your father wouldn’t much like that. BASTIAN. Oh, father has so many irons in the fire. Besides, if Stensgård’s elected, it will still be all in the family, I daresay. MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. How so? BASTIAN. He wants to marry—— MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. Lord! Has he said anything? BASTIAN. Yes; and I’ve promised to put in a word for him. It’ll be all right. I’m sure Ragna likes him. MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. Ragna! LUNDESTAD. [_Approaching._] What is interesting you so deeply, Madam Rundholmen? MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. What do you think he says? Why, that Mr. Stensgård’s making up to—— LUNDESTAD. Yes, but he won’t find the Chamberlain so easy to deal with. BASTIAN. The Chamberlain? LUNDESTAD. He probably thinks her too good a match for a mere lawyer—— MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. Who? Who? LUNDESTAD. Why, his daughter, Miss Bratsberg, of course. BASTIAN. He’s surely not making love to Miss Bratsberg? LUNDESTAD. Yes, indeed he is. MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. You are quite sure of that? BASTIAN. And he told me——! Oh, I want to say a word to you! [LUNDESTAD _and_ BASTIAN _go towards the back._ MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. [_Approaching_ STENSGÅRD.] You must be on your guard, Mr. Stensgård. STENSGÅRD. Against whom? MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.