BURGOMASTER. Aha! Perhaps Mr. Hovstad would like to join the agitation after all? HOVSTAD. No, Burgomaster. ASLAKSEN. No, Mr. Hovstad isn’t such a fool as to ruin both himself and the paper for the sake of a delusion. DR. STOCKMANN. [_Looking about him._] What does all this mean? HOVSTAD. You have presented your case in a false light, Doctor; therefore I am unable to give you my support. BILLING. And after what the Burgomaster has been so kind as to explain to me, I—— DR. STOCKMANN. In a false light! Well, I am responsible for that. Just you print my article, and I promise you I shall prove it up to the hilt. HOVSTAD. I shall not print it. I cannot, and will not, and dare not print it. DR. STOCKMANN. You dare not? What nonsense is this? You are editor; and I suppose it’s the editor that controls a paper. ASLAKSEN. No, it’s the subscribers, Doctor. BURGOMASTER. Fortunately. ASLAKSEN. It’s public opinion, the enlightened majority, the house-owners and all the rest. It’s _they_ who control a paper. DR. STOCKMANN. [_Calmly._] And all these powers I have against me? ASLAKSEN. Yes, you have. It would mean absolute ruin for the town if your article were inserted. DR. STOCKMANN. So _that_ is the way of it! BURGOMASTER. My hat and stick! [DR. STOCKMANN _takes off the cap and lays it on the table along with the stick._ BURGOMASTER. [_Taking them both._] Your term of office has come to an untimely end. DR. STOCKMANN. The end is not yet. [_To_ HOVSTAD.] So you are quite determined not to print my article in the _Messenger_? HOVSTAD. Quite; for the sake of your family, if for no other reason. MRS. STOCKMANN. Oh, be kind enough to leave his family out of the question, Mr. Hovstad. BURGOMASTER. [_Takes a manuscript from his pocket._] When this appears, the public will be in possession of all necessary information; it is an authentic statement. I place it in your hands. HOVSTAD. [_Taking the MS._] Good. It shall appear in due course. DR. STOCKMANN.