Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (285 page)

Hedda.
Illusion?

Brack.
Which could not have lasted long in any case.

Hedda.
What do you mean?

Brack.
Eilert Lovborg did not shoot himself — voluntarily.

Hedda.
Not voluntarily?

Brack.
No. The thing did not happen exactly as I told it.

Hedda.
[In suspense.]
Have you concealed something? What is it?

Brack.
For poor Mrs. Elvsted’s sake I idealised the facts a little.

Hedda.
What are the facts?

Brack.
First, that he is already dead.

Hedda.
At the hospital?

Brack.
Yes — without regaining consciousness.

Hedda.
What more have you concealed?

Brack.
This — the event did not happen at his lodgings.

Hedda.
Oh, that can make no difference.

Brack.
Perhaps it may. For I must tell you — Eilert Lovborg was found shot in-in Mademoiselle Diana’s boudoir.

Hedda.
[Makes a motion as if to rise, but sinks back again.]
That is impossible, Judge Brack! He cannot have been there again today.

Brack.
He was there this afternoon. He went there, he said, to demand the return of something which they had taken from him. Talked wildly about a lost child —

Hedda.
Ah — so that is why —

Brack.
I thought probably he meant his manuscript; but now I hear he destroyed that himself. So I suppose it must have been his pocket-book.

Hedda.
Yes, no doubt. And there — there he was found?

Brack.
Yes, there. With a pistol in his breast-pocket, discharged. The ball had lodged in a vital part.

Hedda.
In the breast — yes?

Brack.
No — in the bowels.

Hedda.
[Looks up at him with an expression of loathing.]
That too! Oh, what curse is it that makes everything I touch turn ludicrous and mean?

Brack.
There is one point more, Mrs. Hedda — another disagreeable feature in the affair.

Hedda.
And what is that?

Brack.
The pistol he carried —

Hedda.
[Breathless.]
Well? What of it?

Brack.
He must have stolen it.

Hedda.
[Leaps up.]
Stolen it! That is not true! He did not steal it!

Brack.
No other explanation is possible. He must have stolen it — . Hush!

Tesman
and
Mrs. Elvsted
have risen from the table in the back-room, and come into the drawing-room.

Tesman.
[With the papers in both his hands.]
Hedda, dear, it is almost impossible to see under that lamp. Think of that!

Hedda.
Yes, I am thinking.

Tesman.
Would you mind our sitting at you writing-table — eh?

Hedda.
If you like.
[Quickly.]
No, wait! Let me clear it first!

Tesman.
Oh, you needn’t trouble, Hedda. There is plenty of room.

Hedda.
No no, let me clear it, I say! I will take these things in and put them on the piano. There!

She has drawn out an object, covered with sheet music, from under the bookcase, places several other pieces of music upon it, and carries the whole into the inner room, to the left.
Tesman
lays the scraps of paper on the writing-table, and moves the lamp there from the corner table. He and Mrs. Elvsted sit down and proceed with their work.
Hedda
returns.

Hedda.
[Behind Mrs. Elvsted’s chair, gently ruffling her hair.]
Well, my sweet Thea, — how goes it with Eilert Lovborg’s monument?

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Looks dispiritedly up at her.]
Oh, it will be terribly hard to put in order.

Tesman.
We must manage it. I am determined. And arranging other people’s papers is just the work for me.

Hedda
goes over to the stove, and seats herself on one of the footstools.
Brack
stands over her, leaning on the arm-chair.

Hedda.
[Whispers.]
What did you say about the pistol?

Brack.
[Softly.]
That he must have stolen it.

Hedda.
Why stolen it?

Brack.
Because every other explanation ought to be impossible, Mrs. Hedda.

Hedda.
Indeed?

Brack.
[Glances at her.]
Of course Eilert Lovborg was here this morning. Was he not?

Hedda.
Yes.

Brack.
Were you alone with him?

Hedda.
Part of the time.

Brack.
Did you not leave the room whilst he was here?

Hedda.
No.

Brack.
Try to recollect. Were you not out of the room a moment?

Hedda.
Yes, perhaps just a moment — out in the hall.

Brack.
And where was you pistol-case during that time?

Hedda.
I had it locked up in —

Brack.
Well, Mrs. Hedda?

Hedda.
The case stood there on the writing-table.

Brack.
Have you looked since, to see whether both the pistols are there?

Hedda.
No.

Brack.
Well, you need not. I saw the pistol found in Lovborg’s pocket, and I knew it at once as the one I had seen yesterday — and before, too.

Hedda.
Have you it with you?

Brack.
No; the police have it.

Hedda.
What will the police do with it?

Brack.
Search till they find the owner.

Hedda.
Do you think they will succeed?

Brack.
[Bends over her and whispers.]
No, Hedda Gabler — not so long as I say nothing.

Hedda.
[Looks frightened at him.]
And if you do not say nothing, — what then?

Brack.
[Shrugs his shoulders.]
There is always the possibility that the pistol was stolen.

Hedda.
[Firmly.]
Death rather than that.

Brack.
[Smiling.]
People say such things — but they don’t do them.

Hedda.
[Without replying.]
And supposing the pistol was not stolen, and the owner is discovered? What then?

Brack.
Well, Hedda — then comes the scandal!

Hedda.
The scandal!

Brack.
Yes, the scandal — of which you are so mortally afraid. You will, of course, be brought before the court — both you and Mademoiselle Diana. She will have to explain how the thing happened — whether it was an accidental shot or murder. Did the pistol go off as he was trying to take it out of his pocket, to threaten her with? Or did she tear the pistol out of his hand, shoot him, and push it back into his pocket? That would be quite like her; for she is an able-bodied young person, this same Mademoiselle Diana.

Hedda.
But
I
have nothing to do with all this repulsive business.

Brack.
No. But you will have to answer the question: Why did you give Eilert the pistol? And what conclusions will people draw from the fact that you did give it to him?

Hedda.
[Lets her head sink.]
That is true. I did not think of that.

Brack.
Well, fortunately, there is no danger, so long as I say nothing.

Hedda.
[Looks up at him.]
So I am in your power, Judge Brack. You have me at your beck and call, from this time forward.

Brack.
[Whispers softly.]
Dearest Hedda — believe me — I shall not abuse my advantage.

Hedda.
I am in your power none the less. Subject to your will and your demands. A slave, a slave then!
[Rises impetuously.]
No, I cannot endure the thought of that! Never!

Brack.
[Looks half-mockingly at her.]
People generally get used to the inevitable.

Hedda.
[Returns his look.]
Yes, perhaps.
[She crosses to the writing-table. Suppressing an involuntary smile, she imitates
Tesman’s
intonations.]
Well? Are you getting on, George? Eh?

Tesman.
Heaven knows, dear. In any case it will be the work of months.

Hedda.
[As before.]
Fancy that!
[Passes her hands softly through Mrs. Elvsted’s hair.]
Doesn’t it seem strange to you, Thea? Here are you sitting with Tesman — just as you used to sit with Eilert Lovborg?

Mrs.
Elvsted. Ah, if I could only inspire your husband in the same way!

Hedda.
Oh, that will come too — in time.

Tesman.
Yes, do you know, Hedda — I really think I begin to feel something of the sort. But won’t you go and sit with Brack again?

Hedda.
Is there nothing I can do to help you two?

Tesman.
No, nothing in the world.
[Turning his head.]
I trust to you to keep Hedda company, my dear Brack.

Brack.
[With a glance at
Hedda
.]
With the very greatest of pleasure.

Hedda.
Thanks. But I am tired this evening. I will go in and lie down a little on the sofa.

Tesman.
Yes, do dear — eh?

Hedda
goes into the back room and draws the curtains. A short pause. Suddenly she is heard playing a wild dance on the piano.

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Starts from her chair.]
Oh — what is that?

Tesman.
[Runs to the doorway.]
Why, my dearest Hedda — don’t play dance-music to-night! Just think of Aunt Rina! And of Eilert too!

Hedda.
[Puts her head out between the curtains.]
And of Aunt Julia. And of all the rest of them. — After this, I will be quiet.
[Closes the curtains again.]

Tesman.
[At the writing-table.]
It’s not good for her to see us at this distressing work. I’ll tell you what, Mrs. Elvsted, — you shall take the empty room at Aunt Julia’s, and then I will come over in the evenings, and we can sit and work there — eh?

Hedda.
[In the inner room.]
I hear what you are saying, Tesman. But how am

I to get through the evenings out here? Tesman.

[Turning over the papers.]
Oh, I daresay Judge Brack will be so kind as to look in now and then, even though I am out.