I deduce The fact from certain signs, which indicate That his tall talk about his Amor"s News Was uttered in a far from sober state.
One proof especially, if not transcendent, Yet tells most heavily against defendant: It has been clearly proved that after dinner To his and Lind"s joint chamber he withdrew, And there displayed such singular demeanour As leaves no question--
GULDSTAD.
[Sees a glimpse of FALK and SVANHILD, who separate, Falk going to the background; SVANHILD remains standing hidden by the summer-house.
Hold, we have the clue!
Madam, one word!--Falk does not mean to go, Or if he does, he means it as a friend.
STIVER.
How, you believe then--?
MRS. HALM.
What do you intend?
GULDSTAD.
With the least possible delay I"ll show That matters move precisely as you would.
Merely a word in private--
MRS. HALM.
Very good.
[They go together into the garden and are seen from time to time in lively conversation.
STIVER.
[Descending into the garden discovers FALK, who is standing by the water and gazing over it.
These poets are mere men of vengeance, we State servants understand diplomacy.
I need to labour for myself-- [Seeing STRAWMAN, who enters from the garden-room.
Well met!
STRAWMAN [on the verandah].
He"s really leaving! [Going down to STIVER.
Ah, my dear sir, let Me beg you just a moment to go in And hold my wife--
STIVER.
I--hold her, sir?
STRAWMAN.
I mean In talk. The little ones and we are so Unused to be divided, there is no Escaping-- [His wife and children appear in the door.
Ha! already on my trail.
MRS. STRAWMAN.
Where are you, Strawman?
STRAWMAN [aside to STIVER].
Do invent some tale, Something amusing--something to beguile!
STIVER [going on to the verandah].
Pray, madam, have you read the official charge?
A masterpiece of literary style.
[Takes a book from his pocket.
Which I shall now proceed to cite at large.
[Ushers her politely into the room, and follows himself. FALK comes forward; he and Strawman meet; they regard one another a moment in silence.
STRAWMAN.
Well?
FALK.
Well?
STRAWMAN.
Falk?
FALK.
Pastor?
STRAWMAN.
Are you less Intractable than when we parted?
FALK.
Nay, I go my own inexorable way--
STRAWMAN.
Even tho" you crush another"s happiness?
FALK.
I plant the flower of knowledge in its place.
[Smiling.
If, by the way, you have not ceased to think Of the Gazette--
STRAWMAN.
Ah, that was all a joke?
FALK.
Yes, pluck up courage, that will turn to smoke; I break the ice in action, not in ink.
STRAWMAN.
But even though you spare me, sure enough There"s one who won"t so lightly let me off; He has the advantage, and he won"t forego it, That lawyer"s clerk--and "tis to you I owe it; You raked the ashes of our faded flames, And you may take your oath he won"t be still If once I mutter but a syllable Against the brazen bl.u.s.ter of his claims.
These civil-service gentlemen, they say, Are very potent in the press to-day.
A trumpery paragraph can lay me low, Once printed in that Samson-like Gazette That with the jaw of a.s.ses fells its foe, And runs away with tackle and with net, Especially towards the quarter day--
FALK [aquiescing].
Ah, were there scandal in the case, indeed--
STRAWMAN [despondently].
No matter. Read its columns with good heed, You"ll see me offered up to Vengeance.
FALK [whimsically].
Nay, To retribution--well-earned punishment.
Thro" all our life there runs a Nemesis, Which may delay, but never will relent, And grants to none exception or release.