ENGSTRAND. Yes, every now and then—just a little edification, in a manner of speaking. But I’m a poor, common man, and have little enough gift, God help me!—and so I thought, as the Reverend Mr. Manders happened to be here, I’d—— MANDERS. Well, you see, Engstrand, I have a question to put to you first. Are you in the right frame of mind for such a meeting! Do you feel your conscience clear and at ease? ENGSTRAND. Oh, God help us, your Reverence! we’d better not talk about conscience. MANDERS. Yes, that is just what we must talk about. What have you to answer? ENGSTRAND. Why—a man’s conscience—it can be bad enough now and then. MANDERS. Ah, you admit that. Then perhaps you will make a clean breast of it, and tell me—the real truth about Regina? MRS. ALVING. [_Quickly._] Mr. Manders! MANDERS. [_Reassuringly._] Please allow me—— ENGSTRAND. About Regina! Lord, what a turn you gave me! [_Looks at MRS. ALVING._] There’s nothing wrong about Regina, is there? MANDERS. We will hope not. But I mean, what is the truth about you and Regina? You pass for her father, eh! ENGSTRAND. [_Uncertain._] Well—h’m—your Reverence knows all about me and poor Johanna. MANDERS. Come now, no more prevarication! Your wife told Mrs. Alving the whole story before quitting her service. ENGSTRAND. Well, then, may——! Now, did she really? MANDERS. You see we know you now, Engstrand. ENGSTRAND. And she swore and took her Bible oath—— MANDERS. Did she take her Bible oath? ENGSTRAND No; she only swore; but she did it that solemn-like. MANDERS. And you have hidden the truth from me all these years? Hidden it from me, who have trusted you without reserve, in everything. ENGSTRAND. Well, I can’t deny it. MANDERS. Have I deserved this of you, Engstrand? Have I not always been ready to help you in word and deed, so far as it lay in my power? Answer me. Have I not? ENGSTRAND. It would have been a poor look-out for me many a time but for the Reverend Mr. Manders. MANDERS. And this is how you reward me! You cause me to enter falsehoods in the Church Register, and you withhold from me, year after year, the explanations you owed alike to me and to the truth. Your conduct has been wholly inexcusable, Engstrand; and from this time forward I have done with you!