The matter never came into court; but from that moment all paths were barred to me. Then I took up the business you know about. I had to turn my hand to something; and I don’t think I’ve been one of the worst. But now I must get clear of it all. My sons are growing up; for their sake I must try to recover my character as well as I can. This place in the Bank was the first step; and now your husband wants to kick me off the ladder, back into the mire. NORA. But I assure you, Mr. Krogstad, I haven’t the least power to help you. KROGSTAD. That is because you have not the will; but I can compel you. NORA. You won’t tell my husband that I owe you money? KROGSTAD. H’m; suppose I were to? NORA. It would be shameful of you. [_With tears in her voice._] The secret that is my joy and my pride—that he should learn it in such an ugly, coarse way—and from you. It would involve me in all sorts of unpleasantness—— KROGSTAD. Only unpleasantness. NORA. [_Hotly._] But just do it. It’s you that will come off worst, for then my husband will see what a bad man you are, and then you certainly won’t keep your place. KROGSTAD. I asked whether it was only domestic unpleasantness you feared? NORA. If my husband gets to know about it, he will of course pay you off at once, and then we shall have nothing more to do with you. KROGSTAD. [_Coming a pace nearer._] Listen, Mrs. Helmer: either your memory is defective, or you don’t know much about business. I must make the position a little clearer to you. NORA. How so? KROGSTAD. When your husband was ill, you came to me to borrow twelve hundred dollars. NORA. I knew of nobody else. KROGSTAD. I promised to find you the money—— NORA. And you did find it. KROGSTAD. I promised to find you the money, on certain conditions. You were so much taken up at the time about your husband’s illness, and so eager to have the wherewithal for your journey, that you probably did not give much thought to the details. Allow me to remind you of them. I promised to find you the amount in exchange for a note of hand, which I drew up. NORA. Yes, and I signed it. KROGSTAD. Quite right. But then I added a few lines, making your father security for the debt. Your father was to sign this. NORA. Was to——? He did sign it! KROGSTAD.