Part 6
ASLAKSEN.
I say, Mr. Hovstad!
HOVSTAD.
Well well; what is it?
ASLAKSEN.
The Burgomaster’s out there, in the printing-office.
HOVSTAD.
The Burgomaster?
ASLAKSEN.
Yes. He wants to speak to you; he came in by the back way—he didn’t want to be seen, you understand.
HOVSTAD.
What can be the meaning of this? Stop, I'll go myself——
[_Goes towards the printing-room, opens the door, bows and invites the BURGOMASTER to enter._
HOVSTAD.
Keep a look-out, Aslaksen, that no one——
ASLAKSEN.
I understand. _Goes into the printing-room._
BURGOMASTER.
You didn’t expect to see me here, Mr. Hovstad.
HOVSTAD.
No, I cannot say that I did.
BURGOMASTER.
[_Looking about him._] You are very comfortably installed here—capital quarters.
HOVSTAD.
Oh——
BURGOMASTER.
And here have I come, without with your leave or by your leave, to take up your time——
HOVSTAD.
You are very welcome, Burgomaster; I am at your service. Let me take your cap and stick. [_He does so, and puts them on a chair._] And won’t you be seated?
BURGOMASTER.
[_Sitting down by the table._] Thanks. [HOVSTAD _also sits by the table._] I have been much—very much worried to-day, Mr. Hovstad.
HOVSTAD.
Really? Well, I suppose with all your various duties, Burgomaster——
BURGOMASTER.
It is the Doctor that has been causing me annoyance to-day.
HOVSTAD.
Indeed! The Doctor?
BURGOMASTER.
He has written a sort of memorandum to the Directors about some alleged shortcomings in the Baths.
HOVSTAD.
Has he really?
BURGOMASTER.
Yes; hasn’t he told you? I thought he said——
HOVSTAD.
Oh yes, by-the-bye, he did mention something——
ASLAKSEN.
[_From the printing-office._] I've just come for the manuscript——
HOVSTAD.
[_In a tone of vexation._] Oh!—there it is on the desk.
ASLAKSEN.
[_Finding it._] All right.
BURGOMASTER.
Why, _that_ is the very thing——
ASLAKSEN.
Yes, this is the Doctor’s article, Burgomaster.
HOVSTAD.
Oh, is that what you were speaking of?
BURGOMASTER.
Precisely. What do you think of it?
HOVSTAD.
I have no technical knowledge of the matter, and I've only glanced through it.
BURGOMASTER.
And yet you are going to print it!
HOVSTAD.
I can’t very well refuse a signed communication——
ASLAKSEN.
I have nothing to do with the editing of the paper, Burgomaster——
BURGOMASTER.
Of course not.
ASLAKSEN.
I merely print what is placed in my hands.
BURGOMASTER.
Quite right, quite right.
ASLAKSEN.
So I must—— _Goes towards the printing-room._
BURGOMASTER.
No, stop a moment, Mr. Aslaksen. With your permission, Mr. Hovstad——
HOVSTAD.
By all means, Burgomaster.
BURGOMASTER.
You are a discreet and thoughtful man, Mr. Aslaksen.
ASLAKSEN.
I am glad you think so, Burgomaster.
BURGOMASTER.
And a man of very wide influence.
ASLAKSEN.
Well—chiefly among the lower middle-class.
BURGOMASTER.
The small taxpayers form the majority—here as everywhere.
ASLAKSEN.
That’s very true.
BURGOMASTER.
And I have no doubt that you know the general feeling among them. Am I right?
ASLAKSEN.
Yes, I think I may say that I do, Burgomaster.
BURGOMASTER.
Well—since our townsfolk of the poorer class appear to be so heroically eager to make sacrifices——
ASLAKSEN.
How so?
HOVSTAD.
Sacrifices?
BURGOMASTER.
It is a pleasing evidence of public spirit—a most pleasing evidence. I admit it is more than I should quite have expected. But, of course, you know public feeling better than I do.
ASLAKSEN.
Yes but, Burgomaster——
BURGOMASTER.
And assuredly it is no small sacrifice the town will have to make.
HOVSTAD.
The town?
ASLAKSEN.
But I don’t understand——. It’s the Baths——
BURGOMASTER.
At a rough provisional estimate, the alterations the Doctor thinks desirable will come to two or three hundred thousand crowns.
ASLAKSEN.
That’s a lot of money; but——
BURGOMASTER.
Of course we shall be obliged to raise a municipal loan.
HOVSTAD.
[_Rising._] You surely can’t mean that the town——?
ASLAKSEN.
Would you come upon the rates? Upon the scanty savings of the lower middle-class?
BURGOMASTER.
Why, my dear Mr. Aslaksen, where else are the funds to come from?
ASLAKSEN.
The proprietors of the Baths must see to that.
BURGOMASTER.
The proprietors are not in a position to go to any further expense.
ASLAKSEN.
Are you quite sure of that, Burgomaster?
BURGOMASTER.
I have positive information. So if these extensive alterations are called for, the town itself will have to bear the cost.
ASLAKSEN.
Oh, plague take it all—I beg your pardon!—but this is quite another matter, Mr. Hovstad.
HOVSTAD.
Yes, it certainly is.
BURGOMASTER.
The worst of it is, that we shall be obliged to close the establishment for a couple of years.
HOVSTAD.
To close it? Completely?
ASLAKSEN.
For two years!
BURGOMASTER.
Yes, the work will require that time—at least.
ASLAKSEN.
But, damn it all! we can’t stand that, Burgomaster. What are we house-owners to live on in the meantime?
BURGOMASTER.
It’s extremely difficult to say, Mr. Aslaksen. But what would you have us do? Do you think a single visitor will come here if we go about making them fancy that the water is poisoned, that the place is pestilential, that the whole town——
ASLAKSEN.
And it’s all nothing but fancy?
BURGOMASTER.
With the best will in the world, I have failed to convince myself that it is anything else.
ASLAKSEN.
In that case it’s simply inexcusable of Dr. Stockmann—I beg your pardon, Burgomaster, but——
BURGOMASTER.
I'm sorry to say you are only speaking the truth, Mr. Aslaksen. Unfortunately, my brother has always been noted for his rashness.
ASLAKSEN.
And yet you want to back him up in this, Mr. Hovstad!
HOVSTAD.
But who could possibly imagine that——?
BURGOMASTER.
I have drawn up a short statement of the facts, as they appear from a sober-minded standpoint; and I have intimated that any drawbacks that may possibly exist can no doubt be remedied by measures compatible with the finances of the Baths.
HOVSTAD.
Have you the article with you, Burgomaster?
BURGOMASTER.
[_Feeling in his pockets._] Yes; I brought it with me, in case you——
ASLAKSEN.
[_Quickly._] Plague take it, there he is!
BURGOMASTER.
Who? My brother?
HOVSTAD.
Where? where?
ASLAKSEN.
He’s coming through the composing-room.
BURGOMASTER.
Most unfortunate! I don’t want to meet him here, and yet there are several things I want to talk to you about.
HOVSTAD.
[_Pointing to the door on the right._] Go in there for a moment.
BURGOMASTER.
But——?
HOVSTAD.
You’ll find nobody but Billing there.
ASLAKSEN.
Quick, quick, Burgomaster; he’s just coming.
BURGOMASTER.
Very well, then. But try to get rid of him quickly.
[_He goes out by the door on the right, which ASLAKSEN opens, and closes behind him._
HOVSTAD.
Pretend to be busy, Aslaksen.
[_He sits down and writes. ASLAKSEN turns over a heap of newspapers on a chair, right._
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Entering from the composing-room._] Here I am, back again. [_Puts down his hat and stick._]
HOVSTAD.
[_Writing._] Already, Doctor? Make haste with what we were speaking of, Aslaksen. We’ve no time to lose to-day.
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_To ASLAKSEN._] No proof yet, I hear.
ASLAKSEN.
[_Without turning round._] No; how could you expect it?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Of course not; but you understand my impatience. I can have no rest or peace until I see the thing in print.
HOVSTAD.
H'm; it will take a good while yet. Don’t you think so, Aslaksen?
ASLAKSEN.
I'm afraid it will.
DR. STOCKMANN.
All right, all right, my good friend; then I shall look in again. I'll look in twice if necessary. With so much at stake—the welfare of the whole town—one mustn’t grudge a little trouble. [_Is on the point of going but stops and comes back._] Oh, by the way—there’s one other thing I must speak to you about.
HOVSTAD.
Excuse me; wouldn’t some other time——?
DR. STOCKMANN.
I can tell you in two words. You see it’s this when people read my article in the paper tomorrow, and find I have spent the whole winter working quietly for the good of the town——
HOVSTAD.
Yes but, Doctor——
DR. STOCKMANN.
I know what you’re going to say. You don’t think it was a bit more than my duty—my simple duty as a citizen. Of course I know that, as well as you do. But you see, my fellow townsmen—good Lord! the poor souls think so much of me——
ASLAKSEN.
Yes, the townspeople have hitherto thought very highly of you, Doctor.
DR. STOCKMANN.
That’s exactly why I'm afraid that—. What I wanted to say was this: when all this comes to them—especially to the poorer classes—as a summons to take the affairs of the town into their own hands for the future——
HOVSTAD.
[_Rising._] H'm, Doctor, I won’t conceal from you——
DR. STOCKMANN.
Aha! I thought there was something brewing! But I won’t hear of it. If they are getting up anything of that sort——
HOVSTAD.
Of what sort?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Well, anything of any sort—a procession with banners, or a banquet, or a subscription for a testimonial, or whatever it may be—you must give me your solemn promise to put a stop to it. And you too, Mr. Aslaksen; do you hear?
HOVSTAD.
Excuse me, Doctor; we may as well tell you the whole truth first as last——
MRS. STOCKMANN _enters from the back, left._
MRS. STOCKMANN.
[_Seeing the DOCTOR._] Ah! just as I thought.
HOVSTAD.
[_Going towards her._] Mrs. Stockmann, too?
DR. STOCKMANN.
What the devil do _you_ want here, Katrina?
MRS. STOCKMANN.
You know very well what I want.
HOVSTAD.
Won’t you sit down? Or perhaps——
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Thanks, please don’t trouble. And you must forgive my following my husband here; remember, I am the mother of three children.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Stuff and nonsense! We all know that well enough.
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Well, it doesn’t look as if you thought very much about your wife and children to-day, or you wouldn’t be so ready to plunge us all into ruin.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Are you quite mad, Katrina! Has a man with a wife and children no right to proclaim the truth? Has he no right to be an active and useful citizen? Has he no right to do his duty by the town he lives in?
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Everything in moderation, Thomas!
ASLAKSEN.
That’s just what I say. Moderation in everything.
MRS. STOCKMANN.
You are doing us a great wrong, Mr. Hovstad, in enticing my husband away from house and home, and befooling him in this way.
HOVSTAD.
I am not befooling any one——
DR. STOCKMANN.
Befooling! Do you think I should let myself be befooled?
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Yes, that’s just what you do. I know very well that you are the cleverest man in the town; but you’re very easily made a fool of, Thomas. [_To HOVSTAD._] Remember that he loses his post at the Baths if you print what he has written——
ASLAKSEN.
What!
HOVSTAD.
Well now, really, Doctor——
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Laughing._] Ha ha! just let them try—! No no, my dear, they’ll think twice about that. I have the compact majority behind me, you see!
MRS. STOCKMANN.
That’s just the misfortune, that you should have such a horrid thing behind you.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Nonsense, Katrina;—you go home and look after your house, and let me take care of society. How can you be in such a fright when you see me so confident and happy? [_Rubbing his hands and walking up and down._] Truth and the People must win the day; you may be perfectly sure of that. Oh! I can see all our free-souled citizens standing shoulder to shoulder like a conquering army——! [_Stopping by a chair._] Why, what the devil is _that_?
ASLAKSEN.
[_Looking at it._] Oh Lord!
HOVSTAD.
[_The same._] H'm—
DR. STOCKMANN.
Why, here’s the top-knot of authority!
[_He takes the_ BURGOMASTER’S _official cap carefully between the tips of his fingers and holds it up._
MRS. STOCKMANN.
The Burgomaster’s cap!
DR. STOCKMANN.
And here’s the staff of office, too! But how in the devil’s name did they——?
HOVSTAD.
Well then——
DR. STOCKMANN.
Ah, I understand! He has been here to talk you over. Ha, ha! He reckoned without his host that time! And when he caught sight of me in the printing-room—[_Bursts out laughing._]—he took to his heels, eh, Mr. Aslaksen?
ASLAKSEN.
[_Hurriedly._] Exactly; he took to his heels, Doctor.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Made off without his stick and——. No, _that_ won’t do! Peter never left anything behind him. But where the devil have you stowed him? Ah—in here, of course. Now you shall see, Katrina!
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Thomas—I implore you——!
ASLAKSEN.
Take care, Doctor!
[DR. STOCKMANN _has put on the_ BURGOMASTER’S _cap and grasped his stick; he now goes up to the door, throws it open, and makes a military salute._
_The_ BURGOMASTER _enters, red with anger. Behind him comes_ BILLING.
BURGOMASTER.
What is the meaning of these antics?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Respect, my good Peter! Now, it’s I that am in power in this town.
[_He struts up and down._
MRS. STOCKMANN.
[_Almost in tears._] Oh, Thomas!
BURGOMASTER.
[_Following him._] Give me my cap and stick!
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_As before._] You may be Chief of Police, but I am Burgomaster. I am master of the whole town I tell you!
BURGOMASTER.
Put down my cap, I say. Remember it is an official cap, as by law prescribed!
DR. STOCKMANN.
Pshaw! Do you think the awakening lion of the democracy will let itself be scared by a gold-laced cap? There’s to be a revolution in the town to-morrow, let me tell you. You threatened me with dismissal; but now _I_ dismiss _you_—dismiss you from all your offices of trust—. You think I can’t do it?—Oh, yes, I can! I have the irresistible forces of society on my side. Hovstad and Billing will thunder in the _People’s Messenger_, and Aslaksen will take the field at the head of the House-owners' Association——
ASLAKSEN.
No, Doctor, I shall not.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Why, of course you will——
BURGOMASTER.
Aha! Perhaps Mr. Hovstad would like to join the agitation after all?
HOVSTAD.
No, Burgomaster.
ASLAKSEN.
No, Mr. Hovstad isn’t such a fool as to ruin both himself and the paper for the sake of a delusion.
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Looking about him._] What does all this mean?
HOVSTAD.
You have presented your case in a false light, Doctor; therefore I am unable to give you my support.
BILLING.
And after what the Burgomaster has been so kind as to explain to me, I——
DR. STOCKMANN.
In a false light! Well, I am responsible for that. Just you print my article, and I promise you I shall prove it up to the hilt.
HOVSTAD.
I shall not print it. I cannot, and will not, and dare not print it.
DR. STOCKMANN.
You dare not? What nonsense is this? You are editor; and I suppose it’s the editor that controls a paper.
ASLAKSEN.
No, it’s the subscribers, Doctor.
BURGOMASTER.
Fortunately.
ASLAKSEN.
It’s public opinion, the enlightened majority, the house-owners and all the rest. It’s _they_ who control a paper.
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Calmly._] And all these powers I have against me?
ASLAKSEN.
Yes, you have. It would mean absolute ruin for the town if your article were inserted.
DR. STOCKMANN.
So _that_ is the way of it!
BURGOMASTER.
My hat and stick!
[DR. STOCKMANN _takes off the cap and lays it on the table along with the stick._
BURGOMASTER.
[_Taking them both._] Your term of office has come to an untimely end.
DR. STOCKMANN.
The end is not yet. [_To_ HOVSTAD.] So you are quite determined not to print my article in the _Messenger_?
HOVSTAD.
Quite; for the sake of your family, if for no other reason.
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Oh, be kind enough to leave his family out of the question, Mr. Hovstad.
BURGOMASTER.
[_Takes a manuscript from his pocket._] When this appears, the public will be in possession of all necessary information; it is an authentic statement. I place it in your hands.
HOVSTAD.
[_Taking the MS._] Good. It shall appear in due course.
DR. STOCKMANN.
And not mine! You imagine you can kill me and the truth by a conspiracy of silence! But it won’t be so easy as you think. Mr. Aslaksen, will you be good enough to print my article at once, as a pamphlet? I'll pay for it myself, and be my own publisher. I'll have four hundred copies—no, five—six hundred.
ASLAKSEN.
No. If you offered me its weight in gold, I dare not lend my press to such a purpose, Doctor. I daren’t fly in the face of public opinion. You won’t get it printed anywhere in the whole town.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Then give it me back.
HOVSTAD.
[_Handing him the MS._] By all means.
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Taking up his hat and cane._] It shall be made public all the same. I shall read it at a great mass meeting; all my fellow citizens shall hear the voice of truth!
BURGOMASTER.
Not a single society in the town would let you their hall for such a purpose.
ASLAKSEN.
Not one, I'm quite certain.
BILLING.
No, strike me dead if they would!
MRS. STOCKMANN.
That would be too disgraceful! Why do they turn against you like this, every one of them?
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Irritated._] I'll tell you why. It’s because in this town all the men are old women—like you. They all think of nothing but their families, not of the general good.
MRS. STOCKMANN.
[_Taking his arm._] Then I'll show them that an—an old woman can be a man for once in a way. For _now_ I'll stand by you, Thomas.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Bravely said, Katrina! I swear by my soul and conscience the truth shall out! If they won’t let me a hall, I'll hire a drum and march through the town with it; and I'll read my paper at every street corner.
BURGOMASTER.
You can scarcely be such a raving lunatic as that?
DR. STOCKMANN.
I am.
ASLAKSEN.
You would not get a single man in the whole town to go with you.
BILLING.
No, strike me dead if you would!
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Don’t give in, Thomas. I'll ask the boys to go with you.
DR. STOCKMANN.
That’s a splendid idea!
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Morten will be delighted; and Eilif will go too, I daresay.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Yes, and so will Petra! And you yourself, Katrina!
MRS. STOCKMANN.
No no, not I. But I'll stand at the window and watch you—that I will.
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Throwing his arms about her and kissing her._] Thank you for that! Now, my good sirs, we’re ready for the fight! Now we shall see whether your despicable tactics can stop the mouth of the patriot who wants to purge society!
[_He and his wife go out together by the door in the back, left._
BURGOMASTER.
[Shaking his head dubiously.] Now he has turned _her_ head too!
-----
Footnote 10:
It will be remembered that Aslaksen figures in _The League of Youth_, of which Stensgård is the central character. Stensgård, we see, has justified Lundestad’s prophecy by attaining the high administrative dignity of “Stiftamtmand,” here roughly translated “Governor.”
Footnote 11:
The reference is to the continental feuilleton at the foot of the page.
ACT FOURTH.
_A large old-fashioned room in CAPTAIN HORSTER’S house. An open folding-door in the background leads to an anteroom. In the wall on the left are three windows. About the middle of the opposite wall is a platform, and on it a small table, two candles, a water-bottle and glass, and a bell. For the rest, the room is lighted by sconces placed between the windows. In front, on the left, is a table with a candle on it, and by it a chair. In front, to the right, a door, and near it a few chairs._
_Large assemblage of all classes of townsfolk. In the crowd are a few women and schoolboys. More and more people gradually stream in from the back until the room is quite full._
FIRST CITIZEN.
[_To another standing near him._] So you’re here too, Lamstad?
SECOND CITIZEN.
I never miss a public meeting.
A BYSTANDER.
_I_ suppose you’ve brought your whistle?
SECOND CITIZEN.
Of course I have; haven’t you?
THIRD CITIZEN.
I should think so. And Skipper Evensen said he’d bring a thumping big horn.
SECOND CITIZEN.
He’s a good ’un, is Evensen!
[_Laughter in the group._
A FOURTH CITIZEN.
[_Joining them._] I say, what’s it all about? What’s going on here to-night?
SECOND CITIZEN.
Why, it’s Dr. Stockmann that’s going to lecture against the Burgomaster.
FOURTH CITIZEN.
But the Burgomaster’s his brother.
FIRST CITIZEN.
That makes no difference. Dr. Stockmann’s not afraid of him.
THIRD CITIZEN.
But he’s all wrong; the _People’s Messenger_ says so.
SECOND CITIZEN.
Yes, he must be wrong this time; for neither the House-owners’ Association nor the Citizens' Club would let him have a hall.
FIRST CITIZEN.
They wouldn’t even lend him the hall at the Baths.
SECOND CITIZEN.
No, you may be sure they wouldn’t.
A MAN.
[_In another group._] Now, who’s the one to follow in this business, eh?
ANOTHER MAN.
[_In the same group._] Just keep your eye on Aslaksen, and do as he does.
BILLING.
[_With a portfolio under his arm, makes his way through the crowd._] Excuse me, gentlemen. Will you allow me to pass? I'm here to report for the _People’s Messenger_. Many thanks.
[_Sits by the table on the left._
A WORKING-MAN.
Who’s he?
ANOTHER WORKING-MAN.
Don’t you know him? It’s that fellow Billing, that writes for Aslaksen’s paper.
CAPTAIN HORSTER _enters by the door in front on the right, escorting_ MRS. STOCKMANN _and_ PETRA. EILIF _and_ MORTEN _follow them._
HORSTER.
This is where I thought you might sit: you can so easily slip out if anything should happen.
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Do you think there will be any disturbance?
HORSTER.
One can never tell—with such a crowd. But there’s no occasion for anxiety.
MRS. STOCKMANN.
[_Sitting down._] How kind it was of you to offer Stockmann this room.
HORSTER.
Since no one else would, I——
PETRA.
[_Who has also seated herself._] And it was brave too, Captain Horster.
HORSTER.
Oh, I don’t see where the bravery comes in.
HOVSTAD _and_ ASLAKSEN _enter at the same moment, but make their way through the crowd separately._
ASLAKSEN.
[_Going up to_ HORSTER.] Hasn’t the Doctor come yet?
HORSTER.
He’s waiting in there.
[_A movement at the door in the background._
HOVSTAD.
[_To BILLING._] There’s the Burgomaster! Look!
BILLING.
Yes, strike me dead if he hasn’t put in an appearance after all!
BURGOMASTER STOCKMANN _makes his way blandly through the meeting, bowing politely to both sides, and takes his stand by the wall on the left. Soon afterwards,_ DR. STOCKMANN _enters by the door on the right. He wears a black frock-coat and white necktie. Faint applause, met by a subdued hissing. Then silence._
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_In a low tone._] How do you feel, Katrina?
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Quite comfortable, thank you. [_In a low voice._] Now do keep your temper, Thomas.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Oh, I shall keep myself well in hand. [_Looks at his watch, ascends the platform, and bows._] It’s a quarter past the hour, so I shall begin——
[_Takes out his MS._
ASLAKSEN.
But surely a chairman must be elected first.
DR. STOCKMANN.
No, that’s not at all necessary.
SEVERAL GENTLEMEN.
[_Shouting._] Yes, yes.
BURGOMASTER.
I should certainly say that a chairman ought to be elected.
DR. STOCKMANN.
But I've called this meeting to give a lecture, Peter!
BURGOMASTER.
Dr. Stockmann’s lecture may possibly lead to differences of opinion.
SEVERAL VOICES IN THE CROWD.
A chairman! A chairman!
HOVSTAD.
The general voice of the meeting seems to be for a chairman!
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Controlling himself._] Very well then; let the meeting have its way.
ASLAKSEN.
Will not the Burgomaster take the chair?
THREE GENTLEMEN.
[_Clapping._] Bravo! Bravo!
BURGOMASTER.
For reasons you will easily understand, I must decline. But, fortunately, we have among us one whom I think we can all accept. I allude to the president of the House-owners' Association, Mr. Aslaksen.
MANY VOICES.
Yes, yes! Bravo Aslaksen! Hurrah for Aslaksen!
[DR. STOCKMANN _takes his MS. and descends from the platform._
ASLAKSEN.
Since my fellow citizens repose this trust in me, _I_ cannot refuse——