Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 6).djvu/146

 The Chamberlain.

Very likely. But by what means have you risen in the world? You began by selling brandy. Then you bought up doubtful debts, and enforced them mercilessly;—and so you got on and on. How many people have you not ruined to push yourself forward!

Monsen.

That's the course of business; one up, another down.

The Chamberlain.

But there are different methods of business. I know of respectable families whom you have brought to the workhouse.

Monsen.

Daniel Heire is not very far from the workhouse.

The Chamberlain.

I understand you; but I can justify my conduct before God and man! When the country was in distress, after the separation from Denmark, my father made sacrifices beyond his means. Thus part of our property came into the hands of the Heire family. What was the result? The people who lived upon the property suffered under Daniel Heire's incompetent management. He cut down timber to the injury, I may even say to the ruin, of the district. Was it not my obvious duty to put a stop to it if I was able? And it happened that I was able; I had the law on my side; I was well within my rights when I re-entered upon my family property.