a clerk?

SOLNESS.

The first man that came to hand? No, thank you--that would never do for
me.

DR. HERDAL.

But now, if your wife--? Suppose, with her delicate health, all this
tries her too much?

SOLNESS.

Even then--I might almost say--it can make no difference. I must keep
Kaia Fosli. No one else could fill her place.

DR. HERDAL.

No one else?

SOLNESS.

[Curtly.] No, no one.

DR. HERDAL.

[Drawing his chair closer.] Now listen to me, my dear Mr. Solness. May I
ask you a question, quite between ourselves?

SOLNESS.

By all means.

DR. HERDAL.

Women, you see--in certain matters, they have a deucedly keen
intuition--

SOLNESS.

They have, indeed. There is not the least doubt of that. But--?

DR. HERDAL.

Well, tell me now--if your wife can't endure this Kaia Fosli--?

SOLNESS.

Well, what then?

DR. HERDAL. --may she not have just--just the least little bit of reason
for this instinctive dislike?

SOLNESS.

[Looks at him and rises.] Oho!

DR. HERDAL.

Now don't be offended--but hasn't she?

SOLNESS.

[With curt decision.] No.

DR. HERDAL.

No reason of any sort?

SOLNESS.

No other than her own suspicious nature.

DR. HERDAL.

I know you have known a good many women in your time.

SOLNESS.

Yes, I have.

DR. HERDAL.

And have been a good deal taken with some of them, too.

SOLNESS.

Oh yes, I don't deny it.

DR. HERDAL.

But as regards Miss Fosli, then? There is nothing of that sort in this
case?

SOLNESS.

No; nothing at all--on my side.

DR. HERDAL.

But on her side?

SOLNESS.

I don't think you have any right to ask that question, doctor.

DR. HERDAL.

Well, you know, we were discussing your wife's intuition.

SOLNESS.

So we were. And for that matter--[lowers his voice]--Aline's intuition,
as you call it--in a certain sense, it has not been so far astray.

DR. HERDAL.

Aha! there we have it!

SOLNESS.

[Sits down.] Doctor Herdal--I am going to tell you a strange story--if
you care to listen to it.

DR. HERDAL.

I like listening to strange stories.

SOLNESS.

Very well then. I daresay you recollect that I took Knut Brovik and his
son into my employment--after the old man's business had gone to the
dogs.

DR. HERDAL.

Yes, so I have understood.

SOLNESS.

You see, they really are clever fellows, these two. Each of them has
talent in his own wa