(TJAELDE shrinks back in terror and tries to reach the office door, but at that moment the RECEIVER comes in, followed by two of his clerks and SANNAES. TJAELDE crosses the room, staggers to his desk, and leans upon it with his back turned to the newcomers.)
The Receiver (coming up behind Tjaelde). Excuse me! May I have your books and papers? (TJAELDE gives a start, moves away to the stove, and supports himself on it.)
Jakobsen (in a whisper, standing over him). Scoundrel! (TJAELDE moves away from him and sits down on a chair by the door, hiding his face in his hands.)
Mrs. Tjaelde (getting up and whispering to JAKOBSEN), Jakobsen!
Jakobsen! (He comes towards her.) He has never deliberately cheated any one! He has never been what you say, and never will be! (Sits down again.)
Jakobsen. I have the deepest respect for _you_, Mrs. Tjaelde. But if _he_ is not a liar and swindler, there is no truth in anything! (Bursts into tears. MRS. TJAELDE hides her face in her hands as she leans back in her chair. A short silence. Then a confused noise of voices is heard without. The RECEIVER and his men stop their work of sorting and inventorying papers, and all look up.)
Mrs. Tjaelde (apprehensively). What is that? (SANNAES and the RECEIVER go to one window, and JAKOBSEN to another.)
Jakobsen. It"s the hands from the quay and the brewery and the factory and the warehouse. All work is stopped until further orders; but this is pay-day--and there is no pay for them! (The others resume their work.)
Tjaelde (coming forward despairingly). I had forgotten that!
Jakobsen (going up to him). Well, go out and face them, and they will let you know what you are!
Tjaelde (in a low voice, as he takes up his saddle-bag). Here is money, but it is all in gold. Go into the town and get it changed, and pay them!
Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, do, Jakobsen!
Jakobsen (in lower tones). If _you_ ask me to, ma"am, I--So there is money in this bag? (Opens it.) And all done up in rolls. He meant to bolt, then!--and with the money his people had lent him. And yet you say he is not a scoundrel! (TJAELDE gives a groan. The noise of voices without grows louder.)
Mrs. Tjaelde (in a low voice). Be quick, or we shall have them in here.
Jakobsen. I will go.
The Receiver (interposing). Excuse me, but nothing must be taken away from here until it has been examined and inventoried.
Jakobsen. It is pay-day, and this is the money for the wages.
Mrs. Tjaelde. Jakobsen is responsible for it, and will account for it.
The Receiver. Oh, that alters the case. Mr. Jakobsen is a man of integrity. (Goes back to his work.)
Jakobsen (to MRS. TJAELDE, in a low voice full of emotion). Did you hear that, Mrs. Tjaelde? He called me a man of integrity--and very soon not a single soul will call me that! (Goes out past TJAELDE to whom he whispers as he pa.s.ses:) Scoundrel! I shall come back again!
The Receiver (going up to TJAELDE). Excuse me, but I must ask you for the keys of your private rooms and cupboards.
Mrs. Tjaelde (answering for her husband). My housekeeper shall go with you. Sannaes, here is the key of the cupboard. (SANNAES takes it from her.)
The Receiver (looking at TJAELDE"S ma.s.sive watch-chain). Whatever article of dress can be called a necessary, we have nothing to do with; but if it happens that it comrises jewellery of any great value--.
(TJAELDE begins to take off the watch-chain.) No, no; keep it on. But it will have to be included in the inventory.
Tjaelde. I don"t wish to keep it.
The Receiver. As you please. (Signs to one of his clerks to take it.) Good-day! (Meanwhile SIGNE and HAMAR have appeared at the door of the outer office, and have seen what pa.s.sed. The RECEIVER, SANNAES, and the clerks try to open the door on the right, but find it locked.) This door is locked.
Tjaelde (as if waking from a dream). Ah, of course! (Goes to the door and unlocks it.)
Signe (rushing to MRS. TJAELDE and falling on her knees beside her).
Mother!
Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, dear, the day of our trial has come! And I am afraid--afraid that it may find us all too weak.
Signe. Mother, what is to become of us?
Mrs. Tjaelde. We are in G.o.d"s hands.
Signe. I will go with Hamar to his aunt"s. We will go at once.
Mrs. Tjaelde. It is possible that his aunt may not be willing to have you now.
Signe. Aunt Ulla! What do you mean?
Mrs. Tjaelde. I mean that you have been the rich man"s daughter; and you do not know what the world is.
Signe. Hamar, do you think Aunt Ulla would refuse to have me?
Hamar (after a moment"s thought). I don"t know.
Mrs. Tjaelde. You hear that, my child. In the next few hours you will learn more than you have learnt in all your life.
Signe (in a horrified whisper). Do you mean that even--?
Mrs. Tjaelde. Hush! (SIGNE hides her face in her mother"s lap. A loud burst of laughter is heard outside.)
Hamar (going to the nearest window). What is that? (SANNAES comes in through the right-hand door and goes to the other window. TJAELDE, SIGNE and MRS. TJAELDE get up.) The bay horse! They have got hold of it.
Sannaes. They have led it up the steps, and are pretending to sell it by auction.
Hamar. They are ill-treating it! (SANNAES runs out. HAMAR s.n.a.t.c.hes up the revolver from the desk and looks to see if it is loaded.) I will--!
Signe. What are you going to do? (As he starts to go out, she clings to him and prevents him.)
Hamar. Let me go!
Signe. Tell me first what you are going to do! Do you mean to go out among all those men--alone?
Hamar. Yes.
Signe (throwing her arms round him). You shan"t go!
Hamar. Take care, this is loaded!
Signe. What are you going to do with it?
Hamar (in a determined voice, as he shakes himself free of her). Put a bullet into the poor beast! It is too good for that crew. It shan"t be put up for auction, either in joke or in earnest! (Goes to the farther window.) I shall get a better aim from here.