Evje (following him). No, listen! Listen to me for a minute. The Editor (turning back). Do you think I have time to stop at all the stations your vanity or your fright will invent on the way? (Moves away.) Evje. You mad creature--listen to me! (The EDITOR stops.) Tell me exactly what you mean to do? The Editor. Fiddlesticks! (Moves on.) Evje (following him). Do you mean to put in the paper that I have broken off this match? The Editor (stopping). Better than that--I shall spread the news in the town; then it will get about, and all the journalists will get a hold of it. Evje. Give me a day or two to think it over! The Editor. Oh, no--you are not going to catch me like that! It is election time, and the other side must be made to feel that all decent people have deserted them. Evje. But it is a lie, you know! The Editor. What is lying, and what is truth? But your resignation from the Stock Exchange Committee and your subsequent failure to be elected to any public position will be no lies, I can assure you! Public opinion is not to be trifled with, you know! Evje. And this from you! The Editor. Bah! Public opinion is a very faithless friend. Evje. But who, after all, constitute public opinion? The Editor. Oh, no--you are not going to lead me into a trap again! Besides--it would be very difficult to say exactly who does constitute it. Evje. This is really--! Then you won't put that in the paper? The Editor. The news of a broken engagement travels quickest by foot-post--ha, ha, ha! (Coughs; then adds seriously:) But won't you, of your own accord, break off what are really absolutely inadmissible relations with a man who scandalises all your acquaintances? Evje. Lay the blame on me, of course! I know his credentials are no longer first class; but my daughter--ah, you would not be able to understand that. The circumstances are quite exceptional, and--. Look here, shall we go up and talk it over with my wife? The Editor. Ha, ha!--you turned me out of the house this morning! Evje. Oh, forget all about that! The Editor (looking at his watch). Half past! Now, without any more evasions--will you, or will you not? Evje (with a struggle). No! I repeat, no! (The EDITOR moves away.) Yes, yes!--It nearly kills me to do it! The Editor. "The Capitalist, secure in his position, who needs pay no regard to," etc., etc.--that is the "common form," isn't it, you man of first-class credentials? Ha, ha! Good-bye. I am going home to send the boy to the printers; he has waited long enough. (Moves away.) Evje (following him). You are the cruellest, hardest, most reckless-- The Editor (who has been laughing, suddenly becomes serious). Hush! Do you see? Evje (turning round). What? Where? The Editor. Over there! Evje. Those two? The Editor. Yes--your daughter and Mr. Harald Rejn. Evje. But he swore this morning that he would never set foot in my house again!