Hedda Gabler

epub:type="z3998:persona">Hedda How have you learnt all this? Brack From the police themselves. Hedda Gazing straight before her. So that is what happened. Then he had no vine leaves in his hair. Brack Vine leaves, Mrs. Hedda? Hedda Changing her tone. But tell me now, Judge⁠—what is your real reason for tracking out Eilert Lövborg’s movements so carefully? Brack In the first place, it could not be entirely indifferent to me if it should appear in the police court that he came straight from my house. Hedda Will the matter come into court then? Brack Of course. However, I should scarcely have troubled so much about that. But I thought that, as a friend of the family, it was my duty to supply you and Tesman with a full account of his nocturnal exploits. Hedda Why so, Judge Brack? Brack Why, because I have a shrewd suspicion that he intends to use you as a sort of blind. Hedda Oh, how can you think such a thing! Brack Good heavens, Mrs. Hedda⁠—we have eyes in our head. Mark my words! This Mrs. Elvsted will be in no hurry to leave town again. Hedda Well, even if there should be anything between them, I suppose there are plenty of other places where they could meet. Brack Not a single home. Henceforth, as before, every respectable house will be closed against Eilert Lövborg. Hedda And so ought mine to be, you mean? Brack Yes. I confess it would be more than painful to me if this personage were to be made free of your house. How superfluous, how intrusive, he would be, if he were to force his way into⁠— Hedda —into the triangle? Brack Precisely. It would simply mean that I should find myself homeless. Hedda Looks at him with a smile. So you want to be the one cock in the basket19⁠—that is your aim. Brack Nods slowly and lowers his voice. Yes, that is my aim. And for that I will fight⁠—with every weapon I can command. Hedda Her smile vanishing. I see you are a dangerous person⁠—when it comes to the point. Brack Do you think so? Hedda I am beginning to think so. And I am exceedingly glad to think⁠—that you have no sort of hold over me. Brack Laughing equivocally. Well well, Mrs. Hedda⁠—perhaps you are right there. If I had, who knows what I might be capable of? Hedda Come come now, Judge Brack! That sounds almost like a threat. Brack Rising. Oh, not at all! The triangle, you know, ought, if possible, to be spontaneously constructed. Hedda There I agree with you. Brack Well, now I have said all I had to say; and I had better be getting back to town. Goodbye, Mrs. Hedda. He goes towards the glass door. Hedda Rising. Are you going through the garden? Brack Yes, it’s a shortcut for me. Hedda And then it is a back way, too. Brack Quite so. I have no objection to back ways. They may be piquant enough at times. Hedda When there is ball practice going on, you mean? Brack In the doorway, laughing to her. Oh, people don’t shoot their tame poultry, I fancy. Hedda Also laughing. Oh no, when there is only one cock in the basket⁠— They exchange laughing nods of farewell. He goes. She closes the door behind him. Hedda, who has become quite serious, stands for a moment looking out. Presently she goes and peeps through the curtain over the middle doorway. Then she goes to the writing table, takes Lövborg’s packet out of the bookcase, and is on the point of looking through its contents. Berta is heard speaking loudly in the hall. Hedda turns and listens. Then she hastily locks up the packet in the drawer, and lays the key on the inkstand. Eilert Lövborg, with his greatcoat on and his hat in his hand, tears open the hall door. He looks somewhat confused and irritated. Lövborg Looking towards the hall. and I tell you I must and will come in! There! He closes the door, turns, sees Hedda, at once regains his self-control, and bows. Hedda At the writing table. Well, Mr. Lövborg, this is rather a late hour to call for Thea. Lövborg You mean rather an early hour to call on you. Pray pardon me. Hedda How do you know that she is still here? Lövborg They told me at her lodgings that she had been out all night. Hedda Going to the oval table. Did you notice anything about the people of the house when they said that? Lövborg Looks inquiringly at her. Notice anything about them? Hedda I mean, did they seem to think it odd? Lövborg Suddenly understanding. Oh yes, of course! I am dragging her down with me! However, I didn’t notice anything.⁠—I suppose Tesman is not up yet. Hedda No⁠—I think not⁠— Lövborg When did he come home? Hedda Very late. Lövborg Did he tell you anything? Hedda Yes, I gathered that you had had an exceedingly jolly evening at Judge Brack’s. Lövborg Nothing more? Hedda I don’t think so. However, I was so dreadfully sleepy⁠— Mrs. Elvsted enters through the curtains of the middle doorway. Mrs. Elvsted Going towards him. Ah, Lövborg! At last⁠—! Lövborg Yes, at last. And too late! Mrs. Elvsted Looks anxiously at him. What is too late? Lövborg Everything is too late now. It is all over with me. Mrs. Elvsted Oh no, no⁠—don’t say that! Lövborg You will say the same when you hear⁠— Mrs. Elvsted I won’t hear anything! Hedda Perhaps you would prefer to talk to her alone? If so, I will leave you. Lövborg No, stay⁠—you too. I beg you to stay. Mrs. Elvsted Yes, but I won’t hear anything, I tell you. Lövborg It is not last night’s adventures that I want to talk about. Mrs. Elvsted What is it then⁠—? Lövborg I want to say that now our ways must part. Mrs. Elvsted Part! Hedda Involuntarily. I knew it! Lövborg You can be of no more service to me, Thea. Mrs. Elvsted How can you stand there and say that! No more service to you! Am I not to help you now, as before? Are we not to go on working together? Lövborg Henceforward I shall do no work. Mrs. Elvsted Despairingly.