What will you do? THE CHAMBERLAIN. Just watch. [_Goes over to_ FIELDBO.] Doctor Fieldbo, will you do me a service? FIELDBO. With pleasure. THE CHAMBERLAIN. Then turn that fellow out of my house. FIELDBO. Stensgård? THE CHAMBERLAIN. Yes, the adventurer; I hate his very name; turn him out! FIELDBO. But how can I——? THE CHAMBERLAIN. That is your affair; I give you a free hand. FIELDBO. A free hand! Do you mean it? Entirely free? THE CHAMBERLAIN. Yes, yes, by all means. FIELDBO. Your hand on it, Chamberlain! THE CHAMBERLAIN. Here it is. FIELDBO. So be it, then; now or never! [_Loudly._] May I request the attention of the company for a moment? THE CHAMBERLAIN. Silence for Doctor Fieldbo! FIELDBO. With Chamberlain Bratsberg’s consent, I have the pleasure of announcing my engagement to his daughter. [_An outburst of astonishment._ THORA _utters a slight scream._ THE CHAMBERLAIN _is on the point of speaking, but refrains. Loud talk and congratulations._ STENSGÅRD. Engagement! _Your_ engagement—— HEIRE. With the Chamberlain’s——? With your——What does it mean? LUNDESTAD. Is the Doctor out of his mind? STENSGÅRD. But, Chamberlain——? THE CHAMBERLAIN. What can I do? I am a Liberal. I join the League of Youth! FIELDBO. Thanks, thanks—and forgive me! THE CHAMBERLAIN. Associations are the order of the day, Mr. Stensgård. There is nothing like free competition! THORA. Oh, my dear father! LUNDESTAD. Yes, and engagements are the order of the day. I have another to announce. STENSGÅRD. A mere invention! LUNDESTAD. No, not a bit of it; Miss Monsen is engaged to—— STENSGÅRD. False, false, I say! THORA. No, father, it’s true; they are both here. THE CHAMBERLAIN. Who? Where? THORA. Ragna and Mr. Helle. They are in here—— [_Goes towards the second door on the right._ LUNDESTAD. Mr. Helle! Then it’s he——! THE CHAMBERLAIN. Here? In my house? [_Goes towards the door._] Come in, my dear child.