The word “mådehold,” in Norwegian, means both “moderation” and “temperance.” ACT THIRD. _The Editor’s Room of the “People’s Messenger.” In the background, to the left, an entrance-door—to the right another door, with glass panes, through which can be seen the composing-room. A door in the right-hand wall. In the middle of the room a large table covered with papers, newspapers, and books. In front, on the left, a window, and by it a desk with a high stool. A couple of arm-chairs beside the table; some other chairs along the walls. The room is dingy and cheerless, the furniture shabby, the arm-chairs dirty and torn. In the composing-room are seen a few compositors at work; further back, a hand-press in operation._ HOVSTAD _is seated at the desk, writing. Presently_ BILLING _enters from the right, with the_ DOCTOR’S _manuscript in his hand._ BILLING. Well, I must say——! HOVSTAD. [_Writing._] Have you read it through? BILLING. [_Laying the MS. on the desk._] Yes, I should think I had. HOVSTAD. Don’t you think the Doctor comes out strong? BILLING. Strong! Why, strike me dead if he isn’t crushing! Every word falls like a—well, like a sledge-hammer. HOVSTAD. Yes, but these fellows won’t collapse at the first blow. BILLING. True enough; but we’ll keep on hammering away, blow after blow, till the whole officialdom comes crashing down. As I sat in there reading that article, I seemed to hear the revolution thundering afar. HOVSTAD. [_Turning round._] Hush! Don’t let Aslaksen hear that. BILLING. [_In a lower voice._] Aslaksen’s a white-livered, cowardly fellow, without a spark of manhood in him. But this time you’ll surely carry your point? Eh? You’ll print the Doctor’s paper? HOVSTAD. Yes, if only the Burgomaster doesn’t give in—— BILLING. That would be deuced annoying. HOVSTAD. Well, whatever happens, fortunately we can turn the situation to account. If the Burgomaster won’t agree to the Doctor’s proposal, he’ll have all the small middle-class down upon him—all the House-owners' Association, and the rest of them. And if he does agree to it, he’ll fall out with the whole crew of big shareholders in the Baths, who have hitherto been his main support—— BILLING. Yes, of course; for no doubt they’ll have to fork out a lot of money—— HOVSTAD.