Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 8).djvu/249

 old miseries that turned my hair grey before its time? Is that the sort of thing you have been brooding over up there, all these years? I can assure you, Gregers, here in the town the whole story has been forgotten long ago—so far as I am concerned.

Gregers. But that unhappy Ekdal family

Werle.

What would you have had me do for the people? When Ekdal came out of prison he was a broken-down being, past all help. There are people in the world who dive to the bottom the moment they get a couple of slugs in their body, and never come to the surface again. You may take my word for it, Gregers, I have done all I could without positively laying myself open to all sorts of suspicion and gossip

Gregers. Suspicion? Oh, I see.

Werle.

I have given Ekdal copying to do for the office, and I pay him far, far more for it than his work is worth

Gregers.

[Without looking at him.] H'm; that I don't doubt.

Werle.

You laugh? Do you think I am not telling you the truth Well, I certainly can't refer you to my books, for I never enter payments of that sort.