GUSTAV. It's because you feel that I hold the first mortgage on
you--Tell me now, when--and--where?
TEKLA. No, it wouldn't be right to him. I think he is still in
love with me, and I don't want to do any more harm.
GUSTAV. He does not love you! Do you want proofs?
TEKLA, Where can you get them?
GUSTAV. [Picking up the pieces of the photograph from the floor]
Here! See for yourself!
TEKLA. Oh, that's an outrage!
GUSTAV. Do you see? Now then, when? And where?
TEKLA. The false-hearted wretch!
GUSTAV. When?
TEKLA. He leaves to-night, with the eight-o'clock boat.
GUSTAV. And then--
TEKLA. At nine! [A noise is heard from the adjoining room] Who can
be living in there that makes such a racket?
GUSTAV. Let's see! [Goes over and looks through the keyhole]
There's a table that has been upset, and a smashed water caraffe--
that's all! I shouldn't wonder if they had left a dog locked up in
there.--At nine o'clock then?
TEKLA. All right! And let him answer for it himself.--What a
depth of deceit! And he who has always preached about
truthfulness, and tried to teach me to tell the truth!--But wait
a little--how was it now? He received me with something like
hostility--didn't meet me at the landing--and then--and then he
made some remark about young men on board the boat, which I
pretended not to hear--but how could he know? Wait--and then he
began to philosophise about women--and then the spectre of you
seemed to be haunting him--and he talked of becoming a sculptor,
that being the art of the time--exactly in accordance with your
old speculations!
GUSTAV.
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