I heard them talking of him at my boarding-house—just as I came in. Oh, the most incredible rumours are afloat about him to-day.

Tesman.

Yes, fancy, so I heard too! And I can bear witness that he went straight home to bed last night. Fancy that!

Hedda.

Well, what did they say at the boarding-house?

Mrs. Elvsted.

Oh, I couldn’t make out anything clearly. Either they knew nothing definite, or else——. They stopped talking when they saw me; and I did not dare to ask.

Tesman.

[Moving about uneasily.] We must hope—we must hope that you misunderstood them, Mrs. Elvsted.

Mrs. Elvsted.