Berent. Yes, and even to put it in my pocket. (Does so.) A fraudulent balance-sheet, dated and signed, is a document of some importance.
Tjaelde. You are determined to ruin my private and public reputation?
Berent. You have been working for that yourself for a long time. I know your position. For a month past I have been in correspondence with all the quarters in which you have business connections, both here any I abroad.
Tjaelde. What underhanded deceitfulness an honest man is exposed to! Here have I been surrounded by spies for the last month! A plot between my business acquaintances and the banks! A snake creeping into my house and crawling over my accounts! But I will break up the conspiracy! And you will find out what it mean, to try and ruin a reputable firm by underhand devices!
Berent. This is no time for fine phrases. Do you propose to surrender your property at once?
Tjaelde. Ha, ha! I am to surrender it because you have made me out a bankrupt on your bit of paper!
Berent. You might conceal the facts for a month, I know. But for your own sake, and especially for the sake of others, I would urgently advise you to end the matter at once. That was the reason of my journey here.
Tjaelde. Ah, now the truth is out! And you came here pretending a friendly concern that the tangle should be straightened out! We were to distinguish between the sound and unsound firms, and you requested me, most politely, to give you my assistance in the matter!
Berent. Exactly. But there is no question of anything unsound here except your own business and what is bound up with it.
Tjaelde (when he has controlled himself). So you came into my house with the hidden design of ruining me?