are others with him.

Dr. Stockmann (composedly). Come to the point, gentlemen. What do you
want?

Aslaksen. Perhaps Mr. Hovstad had better--

Hovstad. No, you tell him, Aslaksen.

Aslaksen. Well, the fact is that, now we know the bearings of the whole
affair, we think we might venture to put the "People's Messenger" at
your disposal.

Dr. Stockmann. Do you dare do that now? What about public opinion? Are
you not afraid of a storm breaking upon our heads?

Hovstad. We will try to weather it.

Aslaksen. And you must be ready to go off quickly on a new tack,
Doctor. As soon as your invective has done its work--

Dr. Stockmann. Do you mean, as soon as my father-in-law and I have got
hold of the shares at a low figure?

Hovstad. Your reasons for wishing to get the control of the Baths are
mainly scientific, I take it.

Dr. Stockmann. Of course; it was for scientific reasons that I
persuaded the old "Badger" to stand in with me in the matter. So we
will tinker at the conduit-pipes a little, and dig up a little bit of
the shore, and it shan't cost the town a sixpence. That will be all
right--eh?

Hovstad. I think so--if you have the "People's Messenger" behind you.

Aslaksen. The Press is a power in a free community. Doctor.

Dr. Stockmann. Quite so. And so is public opinion. And you, Mr.
Aslaksen--I suppose you will be answerable for the Householders'
Association?

Aslaksen. Yes, and for the Temperance Society. You may rely on that.

Dr. Stockmann. But, gentlemen--I really am ashamed to ask the
question--but, what return do you--?

Hovstad. We should prefer to help you without any return whatever,
believe me. But the "People's Messenger" is in rather a shaky
condition; it doesn't go really well; and I should be very unwilling to
suspend the paper now, when there is so much work to do here in the
political way.

Dr. Stockmann. Quite so; that would be a great trial to such a friend
of the people as you are. (Flares up.) But I am an enemy of the people,
remember! (Walks about the room.) Where have I put my stick? Where the
devil is my stick?

Hovstad. What's that?

Aslaksen. Surely you never mean--

Dr. Stockmann (standing still.) And suppose I don't give you a single
penny of all I get out of it? Money is not very easy to get out of us
rich folk, please to remember!

Hovstad. And you please to remember that this affair of the shares can
be represented in two ways!

Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and you are