OLAVUS. It is always dangerous to put oneself in the place of traitors. [Pause.
BARBRO. [Entering from the right, followed by the smaller children] Is father here? [She looks around and discovers ISRAEL seated in the armchair prepared for the King] Goodness, here is the King!
[She kneels, the other children following her example.
ISRAEL. No, no, dear children, I am not the King. I am only a poor merchant from Luebeck.
OLAVUS. A noble answer! [To the children] This is Herman Israel, the far-famed and influential councillor, who, with Cord König and Nils Bröms, saved our King out of Danish captivity and enabled him to carry out the war of liberation. You will find him on the picture in Saint Jorghen's Gildhall which represents Gustavus Vasa appearing before the City Council of Luebeck. Honour to the man who has honour deserved. Give homage to the friend of your country and your King.
BARBRO and the CHILDREN clap their hands.
ISRAEL. [Rises, evidently touched] My dear little friends.... All I can do is to thank you.... I have really not deserved this.... You see, a merchant does nothing except for payment, and I have been richly paid.
OLAVUS. Don't believe him! But bear in mind that there are services that can never be paid, and beautiful deeds that can never be wiped out by ingratitude or forgetfulness.—Go back to your own room now. Your father will come in a moment.
BARBRO and the CHILDREN go out to the right.
ISRAEL. I had never expected such a thing of you, doctor.