ASLAKSEN. The fact is, I am keenly alive to my responsibilities. If you attack the Government, you at least do society no harm; for the men attacked don’t care a straw, you see—they stay where they are all the same. But _local_ authorities can be turned out; and then we might get some incompetent set into power, to the irreparable injury both of house-owners and other people. HOVSTAD. But the education of citizens by self-government—do you never think of _that_? ASLAKSEN. When a man has solid interests to protect, he can’t think of everything, Mr. Hovstad. HOVSTAD. Then I hope I may never have solid interests to protect. BILLING. Hear, hear! ASLAKSEN. [_Smiling._] H'm! [_Points to the desk._] Governor Stensgård[10] sat in that editorial chair before you. BILLING. [_Spitting._] Pooh! A turncoat like that! HOVSTAD. I am no weathercock—and never will be. ASLAKSEN. A politician should never be too sure of anything on earth, Mr. Hovstad. And as for you, Mr. Billing, you ought to take in a reef or two, I should say, now that you are applying for the secretaryship to the Town Council. BILLING. I——! HOVSTAD. Is that so, Billing? BILLING. Well, yes—but, deuce take it, you understand, I'm only doing it to spite their high-mightinesses. ASLAKSEN. Well, that has nothing to do with me. But if I am to be accused of cowardice and inconsistency, I should just like to point out _this_: My political record is open to every one. I have not changed at all, except in becoming more moderate. My heart still belongs to the people; but I don’t deny that my reason inclines somewhat towards the authorities—the local ones, I mean. [_Goes into the printing-room._] BILLING. Don’t you think we should try to get rid of him, Hovstad? HOVSTAD. Do you know of any one else that will pay for our paper and printing? BILLING. What a confounded nuisance it is to have no capital! HOVSTAD. [_Sitting down by the desk._] Yes, if we only had that—— BILLING. Suppose you applied to Dr. Stockmann? HOVSTAD. [_Turning over his papers._] What would be the good? He hasn’t a rap. BILLING. No; but he has a good man behind him—old Morten Kiil—“The Badger,” as they call him. HOVSTAD. [_Writing._] Are you so sure he has money?