Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 11).djvu/195



How was I to know that it was not his own money he gave me to squander? And that he himself used to squander, too—ten times more than I did!

[Quietly.] Well, I daresay his position forced him to do that—to some extent at any rate.

[Scornfully.] Yes, it was always the same story—we were to "cut a figure." And he did "cut a figure" to some purpose! He used to drive about with a four-in-hand as if he were a king. And he had people bowing and scraping to him just as to a king. [With a laugh.] And they always called him by his Christian names—all the country over—as if he had been the king himself. "John Gabriel," "John Gabriel." Every one knew what a great man "John Gabriel" was!

[Warmly and emphatically.] He was a great man then.

Yes, to all appearance. But he never breathed a single word to me as to his real position—never gave a hint as to where he got his means from.

No, no; and other people did not dream of it either.