Evje. You have given us enough reason to, to-day, any way. The Editor. Yes, haven't I? Such a thing for a man to do to his best friends--eh? Evje. That is true. The Editor. To his old schoolfellows--his neighbours--eh? I expect it has disturbed your natural moderation--eh? Evje. I pride myself on my moderation. The Editor. As much as on your brandy! Evje. Are you going to begin your nonsense again? The Editor. Good-morning, Doctor! Have you been making them a fine speech this morning?--about my paper? or about humanity?--romanticism? or catholicism?--eh? (Laughs.) The Doctor (laughing). Certainly one of us two has made a fine speech this morning! The Editor. Not me; mine was made yesterday!--How is your hall-porter? The Doctor (laughing). Quite well, I am ashamed to say. The Editor. There's a faithful subscriber to my paper, if you like! (The DOCTOR laughs.) Well, Mrs. Evje, I can give you news of your man, Master John! Mrs. Evje. Can you? It is more than I can. The Editor. Yes--he is in bed still. That is why I came in the back way--to enquire after his health. Mrs. Evje. But how--? The Editor. How is he after last night? Mrs. Evje. Really, I believe you know everything. We had no idea he was out last night. The Editor. Oh, that is the very latest intelligence! He has been figuring as a speaker--he was drunk, of course--before the Association founded by his master's future son-in-law. And he made a most effective speech--indeed, the speakers at that Association always make most effective speeches! It was all about a Sliding Scale of Taxation, Profit-Sharing for Workers, the necessity for a Labour majority in Parliament, etc., etc., all the usual Socialist rhodomontade. You see how infectious intellectual ideas are! Evje. Well!--I shall turn him out of the house to-day! The Editor. But that is not in accordance with your love of moderation, Evje! Evje. It is a scandal. The Editor (to EVJE). But not the worst. Because, if you want to avoid that sort of thing, there are others you must turn out of the house. (Glances towards HARALD.) Evje. You seem determined to quarrel to-day? The Editor. Yes, with your "moderation." Evje. You would be none the worse of a little of it. The Editor. "Brandy and Moderation" is your watchword--eh? Evje. Do stop talking such nonsense!--I know one thing, and that is that you seem to find the brandy from my distillery remarkably to your taste! The Doctor (interrupting them). When you are in these provoking moods there is always some grievance lurking at the back of your mind. Out with it! I am a doctor, you know; I want to get at the cause of your complaint! The Editor. You were not very successful in that, you know, when you said my maid had cholera, and she really only was--. (Laughs.) The Doctor (laughing). Are you going to bring that story up again? Every one is liable to make mistakes, you know--even you, my boy!