You can stay so far as that’s concerned. I shan’t say a word more. But I wanted you to know that I had done nothing secretly or in an underhand way. I may seem to have come in for a great piece of luck; and so I have, in a sense. But after all, I don’t think I am getting any more than I am giving. I shall stand by him always, and I can tend and care for him as no one else can, now that he is getting helpless. HIALMAR. Getting helpless? GREGERS. [_To MRS. SÖRBY._] Hush, don’t speak of that here. MRS. SÖRBY. There is no disguising it any longer, however much he would like to. He is going blind. HIALMAR. [_Starts._] Going blind? That’s strange. He too going blind! GINA. Lots of people do. MRS. SÖRBY. And you can imagine what _that_ means to a business man. Well, I shall try as well as I can to make my eyes take the place of his. But I musn’t stay any longer; I have such heaps of things to do.—Oh, by-the-bye, Ekdal, I was to tell you that if there is anything Werle can do for you, you must just apply to Gråberg. GREGERS. That offer I am sure Hialmar Ekdal will decline with thanks. MRS. SÖRBY. Indeed? I don’t think he used to be so—— GINA. No, Bertha, Ekdal doesn’t need anything from Mr. Werle now. HIALMAR. [_Slowly, and with emphasis._] Will you present my compliments to your future husband, and say that I intend very shortly to call upon Mr. Gråberg—— GREGERS. What! You don’t really mean that? HIALMAR. To call upon Mr. Gråberg, I say, and obtain an account of the sum I owe his principal. I will pay that debt of honour—ha ha ha! a debt of honour, let us call it! In any case, I will pay the whole, with five per cent. interest. GINA. But, my dear Ekdal, God knows we haven’t got the money to do it. HIALMAR. Be good enough to tell your future husband that I am working assiduously at my invention. Please tell him that what sustains me in this laborious task is the wish to free myself from a torturing burden of debt. That is my reason for proceeding with the invention. The entire profits shall be devoted to releasing me from my pecuniary obligations to your future husband. MRS. SÖRBY. Something has happened here. HIALMAR. Yes, you are right. MRS. SÖRBY. Well, good-bye. I had something else to speak to you about, Gina; but it must keep till another time. Good-bye. [HIALMAR _and_ GREGERS _bow silently._ GINA _follows_ MRS. SÖRBY _to the door._