Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 6).djvu/343

 it became known that she was to have all our aunt's money, and I nothing

Bernick.

Yes, here we are at the root of the matter, Lona; and now you shall hear the plain truth. I did not love Betty then; it was for no new fancy that I broke with you. It was entirely for the sake of the money; I was forced to do it; I had to make sure of the money.

Lona.

And you tell me this to my face!

Bernick.

Yes, I do. Hear me, Lona

Lona.

And yet you wrote me that an irresistible passion for Betty had seized you, appealed to my magnanimity, conjured me for Betty's sake to say nothing of what had passed between us

Bernick.

I had to, I tell you.

Lona.

Now, by all that's holy, I am not sorry I forgot myself as I did that day.

Bernick.

Let me tell you, calmly and deliberately, what my position was at that time. My mother, you know, stood at the head of the business; but she had no business capacity. I was hurriedly called home from Paris; the times were critical; I was to retrieve the situation. What did I find? I found—and this, remember, had to be kept