ACT I.]} SHE: WILD) DUCK gi
entirely if Fate hits them ever so little, and never come to the surface again. Believe me, Gregers, I could have done no more than I have, without exposing myself to all sorts of suspicion and gossip—
Gregers. Suspicion—? Quite so.
Werle. I got Ekdal copying to do at the office, and I pay him a great deal more for his work than it is worth.
Gregers (without looking at him). I have no doubt of that.
Werle. You smile? Perhaps you don’t believe it is true? I am quite aware it doesn’t appear in my accounts; I never enter such payments as that.
Gregers (with a cold smile). I quite agree that there are certain expenses it is better not to enter in one’s accounts.
Werle (with a start). What do you mean?
Gregers (in a more confident tone). Have you entered in your accounts what it cost you to have Hjalmar Ekdal taught photography P
Werle. I? Why should I have entered that?
Gregers. I know now that it was you who paid for it. And I know, too, that it was you who made it possible for him to settle down as he has done.
Werle. And, after all that, you say I have done nothing for the Ekdals! I can assure you that family has caused me enough expense, in all conscience.
Gregers. Have you entered any one item of it in your accounts P
Werle. Why do you ask that?
Gregers. I have my reasons. Tell me this—didn’t your great solicitude for your old friend’s son begin just at the time he was contemplating getting married?
Werle. Good Lord !—after all these years, how can I—?
Gregers. You wrote to me at the time—a business letter, naturally—and in a postscript, in just one or two words, you told me Hjalmar Ekdal had married a Miss Hansen.
Werle. Well, that was true; that was her name.
Gregers. But you never mentioned the fact that this Miss Hansen was Gina Hansen, our former housekeeper.
Werle (laughs ironically, but in a constrained manner). No, I didn’t suppose you were so specially interested in our former housekeeper. —
Gregers. Nor was I, But (lowering his voice) there was someone else in this house who was specially interested in her,
