MONSEN. Have you? ASLAKSEN. To Madam Rundholmen. MONSEN. Ah, at last! ASLAKSEN. But not till to-morrow evening, he said; to-morrow evening, neither sooner nor later. Here’s to you! HEIRE. [_To_ LUNDESTAD.] What the deuce is all this business between Stensgård and Madam Rundholmen? LUNDESTAD. [_Whispers._] He’s courting her. HEIRE. I suspected as much! But he asked me to run him down a bit—to cast a slur on his character—— LUNDESTAD. And you said you would? HEIRE. Yes; of course. LUNDESTAD. I believe he says of you that your word is as good as your bond—and no better. HEIRE. Hee-hee—the dear fellow! He shall find out his mistake this time. MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. [_With an open letter in her hand, at the door on the left._] Where is Mr. Stensgård? HEIRE. He kissed your chambermaid and went, Madam Rundholmen! ----- Footnote 18: The dollar = four crowns = four-and-sixpence, was the unit of coinage at the time this play was written. It has since been replaced by the crown. Footnote 19: “Amtmanden og provsten.” The “Amtmand” is the chief magistrate of an “Amt” or county; the “Provst” is an ecclesiastical functionary, perhaps equivalent to a rural dean. Footnote 20: Bastian now says “thou” (du) to Stensgård—_il le tutoie_. ACT FIFTH. _Large reception-room at the_ CHAMBERLAIN’S. _Entrance door at the back. Doors right and left._ RINGDAL _stands at a table looking through some papers. A knock._ RINGDAL. Come in. FIELDBO. [_From the back._] Good-morning. RINGDAL. Good-morning, Doctor. FIELDBO. All well, eh? RINGDAL. Oh, yes, well enough; but—— FIELDBO. What? RINGDAL. Of course you’ve heard the great news? FIELDBO. No. What is it? RINGDAL. Do you mean to say you haven’t heard what has happened at Stonelee? FIELDBO. No. RINGDAL. Monsen has absconded. FIELDBO. Absconded! Monsen? RINGDAL. Absconded. FIELDBO. Great heavens—-! RINGDAL. There were ugly rumours yesterday; but then Monsen turned up again; he managed to throw dust in people’s eyes——