[_Lights a lamp on the chimney-place and places a shade over it._] Hark to them, Jensen! now the old man’s on his legs holding a long palaver about Mrs. Sörby. JENSEN. [_Pushing forward an arm-chair._] Is it true, what folks say, that they’re—very good friends, eh? PETTERSEN. Lord knows. JENSEN. I've heard tell as he’s been a lively customer in his day. PETTERSEN. May be. JENSEN. And he’s giving this spread in honour of his son, they say. PETTERSEN. Yes. His son came home yesterday. JENSEN. This is the first time I ever heard as Mr. Werle _had_ a son. PETTERSEN. Oh yes, he has a son, right enough. But he’s a fixture, as you might say, up at the Höidal works. He’s never once come to town all the years I've been in service here. A WAITER. [_In the doorway of the other room._] Pettersen, here’s an old fellow wanting—— PETTERSEN. [_Mutters._] The devil—who’s this now? OLD EKDAL _appears from the right, in the inner room. He is dressed in a threadbare overcoat with a high collar; he wears woollen mittens, and carries in his hand a stick and a fur cap. Under his arm, a brown paper parcel. Dirty red-brown wig and small grey moustache._ PETTERSEN. [_Goes towards him._] Good Lord—what do you want here? EKDAL. [_In the doorway._] Must get into the office, Pettersen. PETTERSEN. The office was closed an hour ago, and—— EKDAL. So they told me at the front door. But Gråberg’s in there still. Let me slip in this way, Pettersen; there’s a good fellow. [_Points towards the baize door._] It’s not the first time I've come this way. PETTERSEN. Well, you may pass. [_Opens the door._] But mind you go out again the proper way, for we’ve got company. EKDAL. I know, I know—h’m! Thanks, Pettersen, good old friend! Thanks! [_Mutters softly._] Ass! [_He goes into the office;_ PETTERSEN _shuts the door after him._ JENSEN. Is _he_ one of the office people? PETTERSEN. No, he’s only an outside hand that does odd jobs of copying. But he’s been a tip-topper in his day, has old Ekdal. JENSEN. You can see he’s been through a lot. PETTERSEN. Yes; he was an army officer, you know. JENSEN. You don’t say so? PETTERSEN.