I admit.

STIVER [coming].
He's going, madam!

MRS. HALM.
We're aware of it!

STIVER.
A most unfortunate punctilio.
He'll keep his word; his stubbornness I know.
In the Gazette he'll put us all by name;
My love will figure under leaded headings,
With jilts, and twins, and countermanded weddings.
Listen; I tell you, if it weren't for shame,
I would propose an armistice, a truce--

MRS. HALM.
You think he would be willing?

STIVER.
I deduce
The fact from certain signs, which indicate
That his tall talk about his Amor's News
Was uttered in a far from sober state.
One proof especially, if not transcendent,
Yet tells most heavily against defendant:
It has been clearly proved that after dinner
To his and Lind's joint chamber he withdrew,
And there displayed such singular demeanour
As leaves no question--

GULDSTAD.
[Sees a glimpse of FALK and SVANHILD, who separate,
Falk going to the background; SVANHILD remains
standing hidden by the summer-house.
Hold, we have the clue!
Madam, one word!--Falk does not mean to go,
Or if he does, he means it as a friend.

STIVER.
How, you believe then--?

MRS. HALM.
What do you intend?

GULDSTAD.
With the least possible delay I'll show
That matters move precisely as you would.
Merely a word in private--

MRS. HALM.
Very good.

[They go together into the garden and are seen from
time to time in lively conversation.

STIVER.
[Descending into the garden discovers FALK, who is
standing by the water and gazing over it.
These poets are mere men of vengeance, we
State servants understand diplomacy.
I need to labour for myself--
[Seeing STRAWMAN, who enters from the garden-room.
Well met!

STRAWMAN [on the verandah].
He's really leaving! [Going down to STIVER.
Ah, my dear sir, let
Me beg you just a moment to go in
And hold my wife--

STIVER.
I--hold her, sir?

STRAWMAN.
I mean
In talk. The little ones and we are so
Unused to be divided, there is no
Escaping--
[His wife and children appear in the door.
Ha! already on my trail.

MRS. STRAWMAN.
Where are you, Strawman?

STRAWMAN [aside to STIVER].
Do invent some tale,
Something