Tjaelde (falling on his knees). Mercy, mercy! You do not know what you are asking me. My own children will curse me. I have just heard of a child doing that to her father! And my business friends, who will be ruined with me--numbers of them--think of their families! Oh! What is to become of my work-people? Do you know there are more than four hundred of them? Think of them and their families, robbed of their livelihood!--Be merciful! I cannot, I dare not, do it! Save me, help me! It was horrible of me to try and threaten you; but now I implore you, for the sake of all those that deserve more than I, but to whom I shall devote the rest of my life in loyal work! Berent. I cannot save you, least of all with money that belongs to others. What you ask me to do would be disloyalty to them. Tjaelde. No, no! Publish my accounts openly--put me under trustees, if you like; but let me go on with the scheme that I believe will succeed! Every clear-headed man will see that it must succeed! Berent. Come and sit down. Let us discuss it. (TJAELDE sits down.) Isn't what you are now proposing exactly what you have been trying to do for the last three years? You _have_ been able to borrow the means; but what good has it done? Tjaelde. Times have been so bad! Berent (shaking his head). You have mixed up falsehood and truth for so long that you have forgotten the simplest laws of commerce. To speculate during bad times, on the chance of their becoming better, is all very well for those who can afford it. Others must leave such things alone. Tjaelde. But it is to the advantage of my creditors themselves, and of the banks too, that my estate should hold together! Berent. It is of no advantage to sound firms to prop up unsound ones. Tjaelde. But, surely, to avoid losing their capital--? Berent, Oh, perhaps in the Receiver's hands the estate may-- Tjaelde (hopefully, half rising from his chair). Yes? Well? Berent. But not till you have been removed from the control of it. Tjaelde (sinking down again). Not till I have been removed from the control of it! Berent. On _its own_ resources I dare say the estate can hold out until better times come, but not on borrowed money. Tjaelde. Not on borrowed money-- Berent. You understand the difference, of course? Tjaelde. Oh, yes. Berent. Good. Then you must understand that there is nothing left for you to do but to sign this. Tjaelde. Nothing left but to sign-- Berent. Here is the paper. Come, now! Tjaelde (rousing himself). Oh, I cannot, I cannot! Berent. Very well. But in that case the crash will come of itself in a short time, and everything will be worse than it is now. Tjaelde (falling on his knees).Mercy, mercy! I cannot let go of all hope! Think, after a fight like mine! Berent. Tell the truth and say: "I haven't the courage to face the consequences." Tjaelde. Yes, that is the truth. Berent. "I haven't the courage to begin an honest life." Tjaelde. Yes.