John Gabriel Borkman - LightNovelsOnl.com
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[Boiling inwardly.] Oh, you can't do that.
BORKMAN.
I can when once I come into power again.
FOLDAL.
That won't be for many a day.
BORKMAN.
[Vehemently.] Perhaps you think that day will never come?
Answer me!
FOLDAL.
I don't know what to answer.
BORKMAN.
[Rising, cold and dignified, and waving his hand towards the door.] Then I no longer have any use for you.
FOLDAL.
[Starting up.] No use----!
BORKMAN.
Since you do not believe that the tide will turn for me----
FOLDAL.
How can I believe in the teeth of all reason? You would have to be legally rehabilitated----
BORKMAN.
Go on! go on!
FOLDAL.
It's true I never pa.s.sed my examination; but I have read enough law to know that----
BORKMAN.
[Quickly.] It is impossible, you mean?
FOLDAL.
There is no precedent for such a thing.
BORKMAN.
Exceptional men are above precedents.
FOLDAL.
The law knows nothing of such distinctions.
BORKMAN.
[Harshly and decisively.] You are no poet, Vilhelm.
FOLDAL.
[Unconsciously folding his hands.] Do you say that in sober earnest?
BORKMAN.
[Dismissing the subject, without answering.] We are only wasting each other's time. You had better not come here again.
FOLDAL.
Then you really want me to leave you?
BORKMAN.
[Without looking at him.] I have no longer any use for you.
FOLDAL.
[Softly, taking his portfolio.] No, no, no; I daresay not.
BORKMAN.
Here you have been lying to me all the time.
FOLDAL.
[Shaking his head.] Never lying, John Gabriel.
BORKMAN.
Have you not sat here feeding me with hope, and trust, and confidence--that was all a lie?
FOLDAL.
It wasn't a lie so long as you believed in my vocation. So long as you believed in me, I believed in you.
BORKMAN.
Then we have been all the time deceiving each other. And perhaps deceiving ourselves--both of us.
FOLDAL.
But isn't that just the essence of friends.h.i.+p, John Gabriel?
BORKMAN.
[Smiling bitterly.] Yes, you are right there. Friends.h.i.+p means--deception. I have learnt that once before.
FOLDAL.
[Looking at him.] I have no poetic vocation! And you could actually say it to me so bluntly.
BORKMAN.
[In a gentler tone.] Well, you know, I don't pretend to know much about these matters.
FOLDAL.
Perhaps you know more than you think.
BORKMAN.
I?
FOLDAL.
[Softly.] Yes, you. For I myself have had my doubts, now and then, I may tell you. The horrible doubt that I may have bungled my life for the sake of a delusion.
BORKMAN.
