No, stop a moment, Mr. Aslaksen. With your permission, Mr. Hovstad—— HOVSTAD. By all means, Burgomaster. BURGOMASTER. You are a discreet and thoughtful man, Mr. Aslaksen. ASLAKSEN. I am glad you think so, Burgomaster. BURGOMASTER. And a man of very wide influence. ASLAKSEN. Well—chiefly among the lower middle-class. BURGOMASTER. The small taxpayers form the majority—here as everywhere. ASLAKSEN. That’s very true. BURGOMASTER. And I have no doubt that you know the general feeling among them. Am I right? ASLAKSEN. Yes, I think I may say that I do, Burgomaster. BURGOMASTER. Well—since our townsfolk of the poorer class appear to be so heroically eager to make sacrifices—— ASLAKSEN. How so? HOVSTAD. Sacrifices? BURGOMASTER. It is a pleasing evidence of public spirit—a most pleasing evidence. I admit it is more than I should quite have expected. But, of course, you know public feeling better than I do. ASLAKSEN. Yes but, Burgomaster—— BURGOMASTER. And assuredly it is no small sacrifice the town will have to make. HOVSTAD. The town? ASLAKSEN. But I don’t understand——. It’s the Baths—— BURGOMASTER. At a rough provisional estimate, the alterations the Doctor thinks desirable will come to two or three hundred thousand crowns. ASLAKSEN. That’s a lot of money; but—— BURGOMASTER. Of course we shall be obliged to raise a municipal loan. HOVSTAD. [_Rising._] You surely can’t mean that the town——? ASLAKSEN. Would you come upon the rates? Upon the scanty savings of the lower middle-class? BURGOMASTER. Why, my dear Mr. Aslaksen, where else are the funds to come from? ASLAKSEN. The proprietors of the Baths must see to that. BURGOMASTER. The proprietors are not in a position to go to any further expense. ASLAKSEN. Are you quite sure of that, Burgomaster? BURGOMASTER. I have positive information. So if these extensive alterations are called for, the town itself will have to bear the cost. ASLAKSEN. Oh, plague take it all—I beg your pardon!—but this is quite another matter, Mr. Hovstad. HOVSTAD. Yes, it certainly is.