Chapter 23

Lona.

Then here he is.

Johan TÃ¶nnesenenters from the right.

Bernick.

[Going towards him.] Johanâ€”â€”!

Johan.

[Waving him off.] Letmespeak first. Yesterday morning I gave you my word to be silent.

Bernick.

You did.

Johan.

But I did not know thenâ€”â€”

Bernick.

Johan, let me in two words explain the circumstancesâ€”â€”

Johan.

There is no necessity; I understand the circumstances very well. Your house was in a difficult position; and I was far away, and you had my unprotected name and fame to do what you liked withâ€”â€”Well, I donâ€™t blame you so much for it; we were young and thoughtless in those days. But now I need the truth, and now you must speak out.

Bernick.

And just at this moment I require all my moral authority, and therefore Icannotspeak out.

Johan.

I donâ€™t care so much about the falsehoods you have trumped up at my expense; it is the other thing that you must take upon your own shoulders. Dina shall be my wife, and I will live here, here in this town, along with her.

Lona.

You will?

Bernick.

With Dina! As your wife? Here, in this town?

Johan.

Yes, just here; I will stay here to outface all these liars and backbiters. And that I may win her, you must set me free.

Bernick.

Have you considered that, if I plead guilty to the one thing, I plead guilty to the other as well? I can prove by our books, you say, that there was no embezzlement at all? But I cannot; our books were not so accurately kept in those days. And even if I could, what would be gained by it? Should I not figure, at best, as the man who, having once saved himself by falsehood, had let that falsehood, and all its consequences, run on for fifteen years, without taking a single step to retract it? You have forgotten what our society is, or you would know that that would crush me to the very dust.

Johan.

I can only repeat that I shall make Madam Dorfâ€™s daughter my wife, and live with her here, in this town.

Bernick.

[Wipes the perspiration from his forehead.] Hear me, Johanâ€”and you, too, Lona. My position at this moment is not an ordinary one. I am so situated, that if you strike this blow you destroy me utterly, and not only me, but also a great and golden future for the community which was, after all, the home of your childhood.

Johan.

And if I do not strike the blow, I destroy all that makes my own future of value to me.

Lona.

Go on, Karsten.

Bernick.

Then listen. Everything turns upon this question of the railway, and that is not so simple as you think. Of course you have heard that last year there was some talk of a coast-line? It had many powerful advocates in the district, and especially in the press; but I succeeded in blocking it, because it would have injured our steamboat trade along the coast.

Lona.

Have you an interest in this steamboat trade?

Bernick.

Yes; but no one dared to impugn my motives on that account. My spotless name was an ample safeguard. For that matter, I could have borne the loss; but the town could not. Then the inland line was determined on. As soon as the route was fixed, I assured myself secretly that a branch connection between it and the town was practicable.

Lona.

Why secretly, Karsten?

Bernick.

Have you heard any talk of the great buying-up of forests, mines, and water-power?

Johan.

Yes, for a company in some other townâ€”â€”

Bernick.

As these properties now lie, they are as good as worthless to their scattered owners; so they have sold comparatively cheap. If the purchaser had waited until the branch line was known to be in contemplation, the vendors would have demanded fancy prices.

Lona.

Very likely; but what then?

Bernick.

Now comes the point which may or may not be interpreted favourablyâ€”a risk which no man in our community could afford to incur, unless he had a spotless and honoured name to rely upon.

Lona.

Well?

Bernick.

It is I who have bought up the whole.

Lona.

You?

Johan.

On your own account?

Bernick.

On my own account. If the branch line is made, I am a millionaire; if not, I am ruined.

Lona.

This is a great risk, Karsten.

Bernick.

I have staked all I possess upon the throw.

Lona.

I was not thinking of the money; but when it comes out thatâ€”â€”

Bernick.

Yes, that is the great point. With the unblemished reputation I have hitherto borne, I can take the whole affair upon my shoulders and carry it through, saying to my fellow citizens, â€œSee, this I have ventured for the good of the community!â€

Lona.

Of the community?

Bernick.

Yes; and not a soul will question my motives.

Lona.

Then there are some people, it seems, who have acted more openly than you, with no private interests, no ulterior designs.

Bernick.

Who?

Lona.

Why, Rummel and Sandstad and Vigeland, of course.

Bernick.

To make sure of their support, I had to let them into the secret.

Lona.

And they?

Bernick.

They have stipulated for a fifth of the profits.

Lona.

Oh, these pillars of society!

Bernick.

Can you not see that it is society itself that compels us to adopt these indirect courses? What would have happened if I had not acted secretly? Why, every one would have thrown himself into the undertaking, and the whole thing would have been broken up, frittered away, bungled, and ruined. There is not a single man here, except myself, that knows how to organise an enormous concern such as this will become; in this country the men of real business ability are almost all of foreign descent. That is why my conscience acquits me in this matter. Only in my hands can all this property be of permanent benefit to the many whose subsistence will depend upon it.

Lona.

I believe you are right there, Karsten.

Johan.

But I know nothing of â€œthe many,â€ and my lifeâ€™s happiness is at stake.

Bernick.

The welfare of your native place is no less at stake. If things come to the surface which cast a slur upon my past life, all my opponents will join forces and overwhelm me. In our society a boyish error is never effaced. People will scrutinise my whole career, will rake up a thousand trifling incidents and interpret and comment upon them in the light of these disclosures. They will crush me beneath the weight of rumours and slanders. I shall have to retire from the railway board; and if I take my hand away, the whole thing will fall to pieces, and Ishall have to face not only ruin but social extinction.

Lona.

Johan, after what you have heard, you must go away, and say nothing.

Bernick.

Yes, yes, Johan, you must!

Johan.

Yes, I will go away, and say nothing; but I will come back again, and then I will speak.

Bernick.

Remain over there, Johan; be silent, and I am ready to share with youâ€”â€”

Johan.

Keep your money, and give me back my good name.

Bernick.

And sacrifice my own!

Johan.

You and your â€œcommunityâ€ must settle that between you. I must and will make Dina my wife. So I shall sail to-morrow in theIndian Girlâ€”â€”

Bernick.

In theIndian Girl?

Johan.

Yes; the captain has promised to take me. I shall go across, I tell you, sell my farm, and settle up my affairs. In two months I shall be back again.

Bernick.

And then you will tell all?

Johan.

Then the wrong-doer must take up his own burden.

Bernick.

Do you forget that I must also take upon me wrong-doing of which I wasnotguilty?

Johan.

Who was it that, fifteen years ago, reaped the benefit of that shameful rumour?

Bernick.

You drive me to desperation! But if you speak, I will deny everything! I will say it is all a conspiracy against me; a piece of revenge; that you have come here to blackmail me!

Lona.

Shame on you, Karsten!

Bernick.

I am desperate, I tell you; I am fighting for my life. I will deny everything, everything!

Johan.

I have your two letters. I found them in my box among my other papers. I read them through this morning; they are plain enough.

Bernick.

And you will produce them?

Johan.

If you force me to.

Bernick.

And in two months you will be here again?

Johan.

I hope so. The wind is fair. In three weeks I shall be in New Yorkâ€”if theIndian Girldoesnâ€™t go to the bottom.

Bernick.

[Starting.] Go to the bottom? Why should theIndian Girlgo to the bottom?

Johan.

Thatâ€™s just what I say.

Bernick.

[Almost inaudibly.] Go to the bottom?

Johan.

Well, Bernick, now you know what you have to expect; you must do what you can in the mean-time. Good-bye! Give my love to Betty, though she certainly has not received me in a very sisterly fashion. But Martha I must see. She must tell Dinaâ€”she must promise meâ€”â€”

[He goes out by the second door on the left.

Bernick.

[To himself.] TheIndian Girlâ€”â€”? [Quickly.] Lona, you must prevent this!

Lona.

You see yourself, Karstenâ€”I have lost all power over him.

[She followsJohaninto the room on the left.

Bernick.

[In unquiet thought.] Go to the bottomâ€”â€”?

Auneenters from the right.

Aune.

Asking your pardon, Consul, might I speak to youâ€”â€”?

Bernick.

[Turns angrily.] What do you want?

Aune.

I wanted, if I might, to ask you a question, Consul Bernick.

Bernick.

Well, well; be quick. What is it about?

Aune.

I wanted to know if youâ€™re still determinedâ€”firmly determinedâ€”to turn me adrift if theIndian Girlshould not be ready for sea to-morrow?

Bernick.

What now? The shipwillbe ready for sea.

Aune.

Yesâ€”she will. But supposing as she wasnâ€™tâ€”should I have to go?

Bernick.

Why ask such useless questions?

Aune.

I want to make quite sure, Consul. Just answer me: should I have to go?

Bernick.

Am I in the habit of changing my mind?

Aune.

Then to-morrow I should have lost the place that rightly belongs to me in my home and familyâ€”lost my influence among the workmenâ€”lost all my chances of helping them as are lowly and down-trodden?

Bernick.

We have discussed that point long ago, Aune.

Aune.

Then the Indian Girl must sail.

[A short pause.

Bernick.

Listen: I cannot look after everything myself, and be responsible for everything. I suppose you are prepared to assure me that the repairs are thoroughly carried out?

Aune.

It was very short time you gave me, Consul.

Bernick.

But the repairs are all right, you say?

Aune.

The weather is fine, and it is midsummer.

[Another silence.

Bernick.

Have you anything more to say to me?

Aune.

I donâ€™t know as thereâ€™s aught else, Consul.

Bernick.

Thenâ€”theIndian Girlsailsâ€”â€”

Aune.

To-morrow?

Bernick.

Yes.

Aune.

Very well.[He bows and goes out.

[Bernickstands for a moment irresolute; then he goes quickly towards the door as if to callAuneback, but stops and stands hesitating with his hand on the knob. At that moment the door is opened from outside, andKrapenters.

Krap.

[Speaking low.] Aha, he has beenhere.here.Has he confessed?

Bernick.

Hâ€™mâ€”â€”; have you discovered anything?

Krap.

What need was there? Did you not see the evil conscience looking out of his very eyes?

Bernick.

Oh, nonsense;â€”no one can see such things. I asked if you had discovered anything?

Krap.

I couldnâ€™t get at it; I was too late; they were busy hauling the ship out of dock. But this very haste proves plainly thatâ€”â€”

Bernick.

It proves nothing. The inspection has taken place, then?

Krap.

Of course; butâ€”â€”

Bernick.

There you see! And they have, of course, found nothing to complain of?

Krap.

Consul, you know very well how such inspections are conducted, especially in a yard that has such a name as ours.

Bernick.

No matter; it relieves us of all reproach.

Krap.

Could you really not read in Auneâ€™s face, Consulâ€”â€”?

Bernick.

Aune has entirely satisfied me, I tell you.

Krap.

And I tell you I am morally convincedâ€”â€”

Bernick.

What does this mean, Mr. Krap? I know very well that you have a grudge against the man; but if you want to attack him, you should choose some other opportunity. You know how essential it is for meâ€”or rather for the ownersâ€”that theIndian Girlshould sail to-morrow.

Krap.

Very well; so be it; but if ever we hear ofthatship againâ€”hâ€™m!

Vigelandenters from the right.

Vigeland.

How do you do, Consul? Have you a moment to spare?

Bernick.

At your service, Mr. Vigeland.

Vigeland.

I only want to know if you agree with me that thePalm Treeought to sail to-morrow?

Bernick.

Yesâ€”I thought that was settled.

Vigeland.

But the captain has just come to tell me that the storm-signals have been hoisted.

Krap.

The barometer has fallen rapidly since this morning.

Bernick.

Indeed? Is a storm threatening?

Vigeland.

A stiff breeze at any rate; but not a contrary wind; quite the reverseâ€”â€”

Bernick.

Hâ€™m; what do you say, then?

Vigeland.

I say, as I said to the captain, that thePalm Treeis in the hands of Providence. And besides, she is only going over the North Sea to begin with; and freights are pretty high in England just now, so thatâ€”â€”

Bernick.

Yes, it would probably mean a loss if we delayed.

Vigeland.

The vessel is soundly built, you know, and fully insured too. I can tell you itâ€™s another matter with theIndian Girlâ€”â€”

Bernick.

What do you mean?

Vigeland.

Why, she is to sail to-morrow too.

Bernick.

Yes, the owners hurried us on, and besidesâ€”â€”

Vigeland.

Well, if that old hulk can venture outâ€”and with such a crew into the bargainâ€”it would be a shame if we couldnâ€™tâ€”â€”

Bernick.

Well well; I suppose you have the shipâ€™s papers with you.

Vigeland.

Yes, here they are.

Bernick.

Good; then perhaps you will go with Mr. Krapâ€”â€”

Krap.

This way, please; we shall soon put them in order.

Vigeland.

Thanks.â€”And the result we will leave in the hands of Omnipotence, Consul.

[He goes withKrapinto the foremost room on the left.Doctor RÃ¶rlundcomes through the garden.

RÃ¶rlund.

What! You at home at this time of the day, Consul!

Bernick.

[Absently.] As you see!

RÃ¶rlund.

I looked in to see your wife. I thought she might need a word of consolation.

Bernick.

I daresay she does. But I, too, should be glad of a word with you.

RÃ¶rlund.

With pleasure, Consul. But what is the matter with you? You look quite pale and upset.

Bernick.

Indeed? Do I? Well, can you wonder at it, with such a host of things crowding upon me all at once. Besides all my usual business, I have this affair of the railwayâ€”â€”Give me your attention for a moment, Doctor; let me ask you a question.

RÃ¶rlund.

By all means, Consul.

Bernick.

A thought has occurred to me lately: When one stands on the threshold of a great undertaking, that is to promote the welfare of thousands,â€”if a single sacrifice should be demandedâ€”â€”?

RÃ¶rlund.

How do you mean?

Bernick.

Take, for example, a man who is starting a large manufactory. He knows very wellâ€”for all experience has taught himâ€”that sooner or later, in the working of that manufactory, human life will be lost.

RÃ¶rlund.

Yes, it is only too probable.

Bernick.

Or suppose he is about to open a mine. He takes into his service both fathers of families and young men in the heyday of life. May it not be predicted with certainty that some will perish in the undertaking?

RÃ¶rlund.

Unhappily there can be little doubt of that.

Bernick.

Well; such a man, then, knows beforehand that his enterprise will undoubtedly, some time or other, lead to the loss of life. But the undertaking is for the greater good of the greater number; for every life it costs, it will, with equal certainty, promote the welfare of many hundreds.

RÃ¶rlund.

Ah, you are thinking of the railwayâ€”of all the dangerous tunnellings, and blastings, and that sort of thingâ€”â€”

Bernick.

Yesâ€”yes, of courseâ€”I am thinking of the railway. And, besides, the railway will bring with it both manufactories and mines. But donâ€™t you think thatâ€”â€”

RÃ¶rlund.

My dear Consul, you are almost too scrupulous. If you place the affair in the hands of Providenceâ€”â€”

Bernick.

Yes; yes, of course; Providenceâ€”â€”

RÃ¶rlund.

â€”â€”you can have nothing to reproach yourself with. Go on and prosper with therailway.railway.

Bernick.

Yes, but let us take a peculiar case. Let us suppose a blasting has to be made at a dangerous place; and unless it is carried out, the railway will come to a standstill. Suppose the engineer knows that it will cost the life of the workman who fires the fuse; but fired it must be, and it is the engineerâ€™s duty to send a workman to do it.

RÃ¶rlund.

Hâ€™mâ€”â€”

Bernick.

I know what you will say: It would be heroic if the engineer himself took the match and went and fired the fuse. But no one does such things. So he must sacrifice a workman.

RÃ¶rlund.

No engineer among us would ever do that.

Bernick.

No engineer in the great nations would think twice about doing it.

RÃ¶rlund.

In the great nations? No, I daresay not. In those corrupt and unscrupulous communitiesâ€”â€”

Bernick.

Oh, those communities have their good points too.

RÃ¶rlund.

Can you say thatâ€”you, who yourselfâ€”â€”?

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