Hialmar.

[Glancing at the tray.] Salt meat? Never under this roof! It’s true I have not had a mouthful of solid food for nearly twenty-four hours; but no matter.—My memoranda! The commencement of my autobiography! What has become of my diary, and all my important papers? [Opens the sitting-room door but draws back.] She is there too!

Gina.

Good Lord! the child must be somewhere!

Hialmar.

Come out.

[He makes room, Hedvig comes, scared, into the studio.

Hialmar.

[With his hand upon the door-handle, says to Gina:] In these, the last moments I spend in my former home, I wish to be spared from interlopers——

[Goes into the room.