Can you remember, Lieutenant Ekdal, how Hialmar and I used to come up and visit you in the summer and at Christmas?

Ekdal.

Did you? No, no, no; I don’t remember it. But sure enough I've been a tidy bit of a sportsman in my day. I've shot bears too. I've shot nine of 'em, no less.

Gregers.

[Looking sympathetically at him.] And now you never get any shooting?

Ekdal.

Can’t just say that, sir. Get a shot now and then perhaps. Of course not in the old way. For the woods you see—the woods, the woods——! [Drinks.] Are the woods fine up there now?

Gregers.

Not so fine as in your time. They have been thinned a good deal.

Ekdal.