Rosen. But you will be riding to-morrow morning?
Rosen. Then I shall take the liberty of coming to ask I wish you a very good day.
Leonarda. Look, there is a strange man at the door (Gets up.)
Rosen. What? (Turns round.) He? Has he the face to come here? (Looks out of the open window.) Pst! Pst!--Hans!--Don't you see my horse has got loose? (Goes hurriedly out past the stranger, who bows to him.) Pst! Pst!
Leonarda. And you dare to tell me so--with a smile on your lips?
Leonarda. How is it you dare to come here?
Leonarda. Not a word! Or can there be two men of that name?
Leonarda. So it was you who came forward at the Philharmonic concert, when I was seeking admittance for myself and my adopted daughter, and spoke of me as "a woman of doubtful reputation"? Is that so?
Leonarda (interrupting him impetuously). Then get out of here!--Hans! (HANS is heard answering her from without.)
Leonarda. Hans, will you see this gentleman off my premises.
Hans. Shall I, ma'am? (Looks at LEONARDA.)
Hagbart. It concerns your niece, Mrs. Falk.
Leonarda. Aagot! Has anything happened to her? I have had no letter from her!
Leonarda. Yes, yes! (HANS goes out.) What is it?
Leonarda. But how is it you are here on her behalf?
Hagbart. It is difficult to avoid people at a watering-place, you know--although I must admit your niece did her best. She treated me as contemptuously as possible even went farther than that; but she could not prevent my talking to people she used to talk to, or my happening to be where she was; so that--well--she heard them talk about me, and heard me talk to them--and in the end she talked to me herself.
Hagbart. Yes, it is no good denying it--she actually talked to me, and that more than once.
Leonarda. But what is the meaning of this visit to me?
Leonarda. I want you to deliver your message briefly and concisely--and not a word more than that.
Hagbart. But I cannot do that until you have allowed me to--
Leonarda. Whether you can or not, I shall allow nothing else. I am not going to give you an excuse for saying that you have been holding conversations with me too.
Hagbart. If you have no objection, I am in love with your niece, Mrs. Falk.
Leonarda. You? With Aagot?--It serves you right!