the left).

Alfred. And may I have a wash too?

Nordan. Go with Thomas. I will be with you directly. (ALFRED and THOMAS
go into the house. Then a carriage is heard stopping outside.) There is
a carriage. Go and see who it is, Thomas. I won't see any patients! I am
going away to-morrow.

Thomas. It is Mr. Christensen. (Goes into the house again.)

Nordan. Oho! (Goes to the window on the left.) Alfred!

Alfred (coming to the window). Yes?

Nordan. It is your father! If you do not want to be seen, pull down the
blind. (The blind is dulled dawn.)

Thomas (showing in CHRISTENSEN). Will you come this way please, sir.
(CHRISTENSEN is in court dress protected by a dustcoat, and wears the
cross of a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Olaf.)

Christensen. I hope I do not disturb you, doctor?

Nordan. Not at all!--In full dress! I congratulate you.

Christensen. Yes, we newly-fledged knights have to go to Court to-day.
But do you mind if I spend a minute or two here with you before I go on
to the palace?--Any news from over there? From the Riis's?

Nordan. No. They are sitting waiting for the "war" to begin, I expect.

Christensen. They shall not have to wait long, then! I have made up
my mind to begin it to-day. Has she come to her senses, by any chance?
Women usually feel things like that very acutely. But they usually get
over it, too.

Nordan. I do not think so. But I bow before your experience.

Christensen. Thank you! I should think that, as an old hand at playing
the buffer in family jars, you had a much greater experience. Yesterday
she was like an electric eel! And she gave her shock, too! The boy has
not been home since. I am almost glad of that; it shows he has some
sense of shame. I was beginning to doubt it.

Nordan. It is the coming "war" that interests me.

Christensen. Oh, you are anxious to see that, are you? Very well. As
a matter of fact there is no need to draw up a plan of campaign. That
affair of Mrs. North's can be taken up again any day, my dear fellow! It
is in the hands of the bank, you know.

Nordan. But what has that to do with your son engagement?

Christensen. What has it to do with it? Miss Riis gives my son his
dismissal because she cannot tolerate his conduct before marriage. Her
own father indulges in the same sort of conduct when he is well on in
married life! Tableau vivant tres curieux!--to use a language Mr. Riis
is very fond of.

Nordan. It is a shame to talk like th