Leonarda. Yes, yes! (HANS goes out.) What is it?
Hagbart. No bad news.
Leonarda. But how is it you are here on her behalf?
Hagbart. It is difficult to avoid people at a watering-place, you know—although I must admit your niece did her best. She treated me as contemptuously as possible even went farther than that; but she could not prevent my talking to people she used to talk to, or my happening to be where she was; so that—well—she heard them talk about me, and heard me talk to them—and in the end she talked to me herself.
Leonarda. Talked to you?
Hagbart. Yes, it is no good denying it—she actually talked to me, and that more than once.
Leonarda. But what is the meaning of this visit to me?
Hagbart. If you will only allow me to—
Leonarda. I want you to deliver your message briefly and concisely—and not a word more than that.
Hagbart. But I cannot do that until you have allowed me to—