HIALMAR. I know my duty; my helpless father will come with me. I am going out into the town to make arrangements——. H'm—[_hesitatingly_] has any one found my hat on the stairs? GINA. No. Have you lost your hat? HIALMAR. Of course I had it on when I came in last night; there’s no doubt about that; but I couldn’t find it this morning. GINA. Lord help us! where _have_ you been to with those two ne’er-do-weels? HIALMAR. Oh, don’t bother me about trifles. Do you suppose I am in the mood to remember details? GINA. If only you haven’t caught cold, Ekdal. [_Goes out into the kitchen._ HIALMAR. [_Talks to himself in a low tone of irritation, whilst he empties the table-drawer._] You’re a scoundrel, Relling!—You’re a low fellow!—Ah, you shameless tempter!—I wish I could get some one to stick a knife into you! [_He lays some old letters on one side, finds the torn document of yesterday, takes it up and looks at the pieces; puts it down hurriedly as_ GINA _enters._ GINA. [_Sets a tray with coffee, etc., on the table._] Here’s a drop of something hot, if you’d fancy it. And there’s some bread and butter and a snack of salt meat. HIALMAR. [_Glancing at the tray._] Salt meat? Never under this roof! It’s true I have not had a mouthful of solid food for nearly twenty-four hours; but no matter.—My memoranda! The commencement of my autobiography! What has become of my diary, and all my important papers? [_Opens the sitting-room door but draws back._] She is there too! GINA. Good Lord! the child must be _somewhere_! HIALMAR. Come out. [_He makes room,_ HEDVIG _comes, scared, into the studio._ HIALMAR. [_With his hand upon the door-handle, says to_ GINA:] In these, the last moments I spend in my former home, I wish to be spared from interlopers—— [_Goes into the room._ HEDVIG. [_With a bound towards her mother, asks softly, trembling._] Does that mean me? GINA. Stay out in the kitchen, Hedvig; or, no—you’d best go into your own room. [_Speaks to_ HIALMAR _as she goes in to him._] Wait a bit, Ekdal; don’t rummage so in the drawers; _I_ know where everything is. HEDVIG. [_Stands a moment immovable, in terror and perplexity, biting her lips to keep back the tears; then she clenches her hands convulsively, and says softly_:] The wild duck.