Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 4).djvu/230



Not yet. Crazy? Heaven forbid!

[''A commotion. The Minister forces his way through the crowd.''

They tell me a Kaiser has come to-day.

[To .

It is you?

[In desperation.]

Yes, that is a settled thing!

Good.—Then no doubt there are notes to be answered?

[Tearing his hair.]

Come on! Right you are, sir;—the madder the better!

Will you do me the honour of taking a dip?

[Bowing deeply.

I am a pen.

[Bowing still deeper.]

Why then I am quite clearly A rubbishy piece of imperial parchment.

My story, my lord, is concisely this: They take me for a pounce-box, and I am a pen.