nfined itself to certain departments in which Jacob Worse's
capital was actually employed, especially to those pertaining to
their business as shipowners.

When Jacob Worse saw Madame Torvestad, he dismissed the warehouseman,
and saluted her in an excited manner.

"I come to wish you a prosperous and happy voyage, Captain Worse."

"Thanks--h'm--many thanks, madame. I would otherwise--"

"Will it be a long voyage?"

"It is impossible to say. He wishes me to--"

"Who did you say?"

"The Consul--Consul Garman; he is sending me to Bremen to purchase a
ship."

"Sending!" said Madame Torvestad, with an incredulous smile. "I did
not know that one partner could 'send' another."

"Partner! oh yes! You see, he is Consul Garman, and I am Skipper
Worse; and it will never be otherwise. Moreover, when it comes to
purchasing a ship, it is just the job for me."

"You surprise me, and it distresses me that you do not tell me the
real reason of your departure. I think we might have expected it of
you."

He stared at her with his mouth open.

"You must know this, Captain Worse," she continued, "that I am
satisfied you would not undertake this voyage unless you wished to
get out of your engagement with us altogether."

She was about to proceed in this somewhat menacing manner, but the
captain sprang up, excited, and red in the face.

"No, Madame Torvestad! I tell you what it is--you do me a confounded
injustice. Pardon me, I should not have sworn, but I cannot help it.
From the very first I have worried and schemed until I was black in
the face, in order to escape this voyage; and then you come and tell
me that I am behaving with deceit and devilry. I think everybody is
mad to-day."

He stamped round the room, clawing at his hair; but Madame Torvestad
eyed him with satisfaction--a weight had been removed from her heart.

A certain nervousness and uneasiness which had oppressed her when she
entered vanished at once, and she resumed her usual imperious manner,
as a mother should who has to deal with a wavering suitor.

"After all we have talked of lately, I must say I was much surprised
on hearing of this sudden voyage."

"Do you suppose that I have not thought of this? I assure you, Madame
Torvestad, that when I think that I am about to leave without so much
as a definite promise, it almost drives me mad. The devil may take
the Bremen ship, if I can find an excuse or some way out of it."

"Ah, twenty years ago, Jaco