Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 5).djvu/306

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Most gracious Emperor, will you permit your servant to ask a question, in his own name, and that of these much disquieted men?

Ask, my dearest Caesarius! Are you not my beloved Gregory's brother? Ask, ask!

Tell me, then, sire[He observes .] What do I see! Hekebolius here?

Newly returned

[Trying to draw back.] Then I beg leave to defer

No, no, my Caesarius; this friend may hear everything.

Friend, say you? Oh my Emperor, then you have not ordered these imprisonments?

What mean you?

Do you not know? Nevita—the general-in-chief, as he now calls himself—is instituting prosecutions under pretext of your authority, against all the trusted servants of your predecessor.