No; for the last time, no. I will not.

Erik.

My honour is at stake——

The Chamberlain.

Oh, let us have no big phrases! There’s no honour involved in commercial success nowadays; quite the opposite, I had almost said. Go home and make up your accounts; pay every man his due, and have done with it, the sooner the better.

Erik.

Oh, you don’t know——

Selma and Thora enter from the drawing-room.

Selma.

Is that Erik’s voice?—Good heavens, what is the matter?