Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 8).djvu/211

 Hovstad.

What do you mean?

Aslaksen.

Surely you wouldn't

Dr. Stockmann.

[Standing still.] And suppose I don't give you a single farthing out of all my shares? You must remember we rich folk don't like parting with our money.

Hovstad.

And you must remember that this business of the shares can be represented in two ways.

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, you are the man for that; if I don't come to the rescue of the Messenger, you'll manage to put a vile complexion on the affair; you'll hunt me down, I suppose—bait me—try to throttle me as a dog throttles a hare!

Hovstad.

That's a law of nature—every animal fights for its own subsistence.

Aslaksen.

And must take its food where it can find it, you know.

Dr. Stockmann.

Then see if you can't find some out in the gutter; [Striding about the room] for now, by heaven! we shall see which is the strongest animal of us three.