Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 6).djvu/162

 sat Messrs. Monsen and Stensgård drinking port—filthy stuff! I wouldn't touch it; but they might have had the decency to offer me a glass, all the same. However, Monsen turned to me and said, "What do you bet that Chamberlain Bratsberg won't go with our party at the preliminary election to-morrow?" "Indeed," said I, "how's that to be managed?" "Oh," he said, "this bill will persuade him"

Fieldbo.

Bill?

Lundestad.

At the election?

The Chamberlain.

Well? What then?

Heire.

Oh, I know no more. They said something about two thousand dollars. That's the figure they rate a gentleman's conscience at! Oh, it's abominable, I say!

The Chamberlain.

A bill for two thousand dollars?

Ringdal.

And Monsen has it?

Heire.

No, he handed it over to Stensgård.

Lundestad.

Indeed!

Fieldbo.

To Stensgård?