Mrs. Sorby. And you can imagine what that means to a business man. Well, I shall try to use my eyes for him as well as I can. But I mustn’t stay any longer, I’m so busy just now—oh! I was to tell you Ekdal, that if there was anything Werle could do for you, you have only to apply to Graberg.
Gregers. I’m sure Hjalmar Ekdal will decline that offer.
Mrs. Sorby. Indeed? I don’t think he used to be so——
Gina. Yes, Bertha, Ekdal wants nothing more from Mr. Werle.
Hjalmar (slowly and emphatically). Will you present my compliments to your future husband, and tell him that I intend very shortly to call upon the book-keeper, Graberg——
Gregers. What! You’ll do that.
Hjalmar. ——to call upon the book-keeper, Graberg, I say, and ask for an account of the money I owe his principal. I shall pay back this debt of honor—ha, ha, ha! let us call it a debt of honor! But enough of this. I shall repay the whole with five per cent interest.
Gina. But, dear Ekdal, goodness knows we’ve not the money to do it.
Hjalmar. Will you tell your betrothed that I am working indefatigably at my invention. Will you tell him that what sustained my strength for this exhausting labor, is the desire to be rid of the torture of this load of debt. That’s why I go on with the invention. I shall devote the whole of the profits to the repayment of the pecuniary advances made me by your future consort.
Mrs. Sorby. Something has happened in this house.