Of course, we should prefer to give you our support for nothing. But the _Messenger_ is not very firmly established; it’s not getting on as it ought to; and I should be very sorry to have to stop the paper just now, when there’s so much to be done in general politics. DR. STOCKMANN. Naturally; that would be very hard for a friend of the people like you. [_Flaring up._] But I—I am an enemy of the people! [_Striding about the room._] Where’s my stick? Where the devil is my stick? HOVSTAD. What do you mean? ASLAKSEN. Surely you wouldn’t—— DR. STOCKMANN. [_Standing still._] And suppose I don’t give you a single farthing out of all my shares? You must remember we rich folk don’t like parting with our money. HOVSTAD. And you must remember that this business of the shares can be represented in two ways. DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, you are the man for that; if I don’t come to the rescue of the _Messenger_, you’ll manage to put a vile complexion on the affair; you’ll hunt me down, I suppose—bait me—try to throttle me as a dog throttles a hare! HOVSTAD. That’s a law of nature—every animal fights for its own subsistence. ASLAKSEN. And must take its food where it can find it, you know. DR. STOCKMANN. Then see if you can’t find some out in the gutter; [_Striding about the room_] for now, by heaven! we shall see which is the strongest animal of us three. [_Finds his umbrella and brandishes it._] Now, look here——! HOVSTAD. You surely don’t mean to assault us! ASLAKSEN. I say, be careful with that umbrella! DR. STOCKMANN. Out at the window with you, Mr. Hovstad! HOVSTAD. [_By the hall door._] Are you utterly crazy? DR. STOCKMANN. Out at the window, Mr. Aslaksen! Jump I tell you! Be quick about it! ASLAKSEN. [_Running round the writing-table._] Moderation, Doctor; I'm not at all strong; I can’t stand much——[_Screams._] Help! help! MRS. STOCKMANN, PETRA, _and_ HORSTER _enter from sitting-room._ MRS. STOCKMANN. Good heavens, Thomas! what _can_ be the matter? DR. STOCKMANN. [_Brandishing the umbrella._] Jump, I tell you! Out into the gutter! HOVSTAD. An unprovoked assault! I call you to witness, Captain Horster. [_Rushes off through the hall._ ASLAKSEN. [_Bewildered._] If one only knew the local situation——![14] [_He slinks out by the sitting-room door._