Gregers. I have in mind to open Hjalmar Ekdal’s eyes. He shall see his position as it is; that is all.
Werle. Is that the mission in life you spoke of yesterday?
Gregers. Yes. You have left none other open to me.
Werle. Is it I who have poisoned your mind, Gregers?
Gregers. You have poisoned my whole life—I’m not thinking about all that with mother. But it is you I have to thank for it that I go about hunted and devoured by a guilty conscience.
Werle. Aha! So it’s your conscience that’s amiss.
Gregers. I ought to have stood out against you then, at the time when you laid the snares for Lieutenant Ekdal. I ought to have warned him; for I foresaw whither it would lead him.
Werle. Yes; then, indeed, you ought to have spoken.
Gregers. I didn’t dare to; I was so cowed and scared. I was so afraid of you—both then and for a long time afterwards.
Werle. You’ve got over that fear now it seems.