Yes, if it’s true; if not, I'm off again. DR. STOCKMANN. If what is true? MORTEN KIIL. This crazy business about the water-works. Now, is it true? DR. STOCKMANN. Why, of course it is. But how came you to hear of it? MORTEN KIIL. [_Coming in._] Petra looked in on her way to the school—— DR. STOCKMANN. Oh, did she? MORTEN KIIL. Ay ay—and she told me—. I thought she was only making game of me; but that’s not like Petra either. DR. STOCKMANN. No, indeed; how could you think so? MORTEN KIIL. Oh, you can never be sure of anybody. You may be made a fool of before you know where you are. So it is true, after all? DR. STOCKMANN. Most certainly it is. Do sit down, father-in-law. [_Forces him down on the sofa._] Now isn’t it a real blessing for the town——? MORTEN KIIL. [_Suppressing his laughter._] A blessing for the town? DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, that I made this discovery in time—— MORTEN KIIL. [_As before._] Ay, ay, ay!—Well, I could never have believed that you would play monkey-tricks with your very own brother. DR. STOCKMANN. Monkey-tricks! MRS. STOCKMANN. Why, father dear—— MORTEN KIIL. [_Resting his hands and chin on the top of his stick and blinking slyly at the_ DOCTOR.] What was it again? Wasn’t it that some animals had got into the water-pipes? DR. STOCKMANN. Yes; infusorial animals. MORTEN KIIL. And any number of these animals had got in, Petra said—whole swarms of them. DR. STOCKMANN. Certainly; hundreds of thousands. MORTEN KIIL. But no one can see them—isn’t that it? DR. STOCKMANN. Quite right; no one can see them. MORTEN KIIL. [_With a quiet, chuckling laugh._] I'll be damned if that isn’t the best thing I've heard of you yet. DR. STOCKMANN. What do you mean? MORTEN KIIL. But you’ll never in this world make the Burgomaster take in anything of the sort. DR. STOCKMANN. Well, that we shall see. MORTEN KIIL. Do you really think he’ll be so crazy? DR. STOCKMANN. I hope the whole town will be so crazy. MORTEN KIIL.