(To KROLL.) May I venture to ask you, Professor--unter
uns--are there in your esteemed town any fairly decent,
respectable and spacious assembly-rooms?
Kroll. The most spacious is the hall belonging to the Working
Men's Association.
Brendel. May I ask, sir, if you have any special influence with
that no doubt most useful Association?
Kroll. I have nothing whatever to do with it.
Rebecca (to BRENDEL). You ought to apply to Peter Mortensgaard.
Brendel. Pardon, madame--what sort of an idiot is he?
Rosmer. Why do you make up your mind he is an idiot?
Brendel. Do you suppose I can't tell, from the sound of the name,
that it belongs to a plebeian?
Kroll. I did not expect that answer.
Brendel. But I will conquer my prejudices. There is nothing else
for it. When a man stands at a turning-point in his life--as I do--
. That is settled. I shall, put myself into communication with
this person--commence direct negotiations.
Rosmer. Are you in earnest when you say you are standing at a
turning-point in your life?
Brendel. Does my own boy not know that wherever Ulrik Brendel
stands he is always in earnest about it? Look here, I mean to
become a new man now--to emerge from the cloak of reserve in which
I have hitherto shrouded myself.
Rosmer. In what way?
Brendel. I mean to take an active part in life--to step forward--to
look higher. The atmosphere we breathe is heavy with storms.
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