DR. HERDAL. --that your wife is not particularly fond of this Miss Fosli.

SOLNESS.

Is that all? I have noticed that myself.

DR. HERDAL.

And I must say I am scarcely surprised at it.

SOLNESS.

At what?

DR. HERDAL.

That she should not exactly approve of your seeing so much of another woman, all day and every day.

SOLNESS.

No, no, I suppose you are right there--and Aline too. But it's impossible to make any change.

DR. HERDAL.

Could you not engage a clerk?

SOLNESS.

The first man that came to hand? No, thank you--that would never do for me.

DR. HERDAL.

But now, if your wife--? Suppose, with her delicate health, all this tries her too much?

SOLNESS.

Even then--I might almost say--it can make no difference. I must keep Kaia Fosli. No one else could fill her place.

DR. HERDAL.

No one else?

SOLNESS.

[Curtly.] No, no one.

DR. HERDAL.

[Drawing his chair closer.] Now listen to me, my dear Mr. Solness. May I ask you a question, quite between ourselves?

SOLNESS.

By all means.

DR. HERDAL.

Women, you see--in certain matters, they have a deucedly keen intuition--

SOLNESS.

They have, indeed. There is not the least doubt of that. But--?

DR. HERDAL.

Well, tell me now--if your wife can't endure this Kaia Fosli--?

SOLNESS.

Well, what then?

DR. HERDAL. --may she not have just--just the least little bit of reason for this instinctive dislike?

SOLNESS.

[Looks at him and rises.] Oho!

DR. HERDAL.

Now don't be offended--but hasn't she?