Burgomaster.
[Taking them both.] Your term of office has come to an untimely end.
Dr. Stockmann.
The end is not yet. [To Hovstad.] So you are quite determined not to print my article in the Messenger?
Hovstad.
Quite; for the sake of your family, if for no other reason.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Oh, be kind enough to leave his family out of the question, Mr. Hovstad.
Burgomaster.
[Takes a manuscript from his pocket.] When this appears, the public will be in possession of all necessary information; it is an authentic statement. I place it in your hands.
Hovstad.
[Taking the MS.] Good. It shall appear in due course.
Dr. Stockmann.
And not mine! You imagine you can kill me and the truth by a conspiracy of silence! But it won't be so easy at you think. Mr. Aslaksen, will you be good enough to print my article at once, as a pamphlet? I'll pay for it myself, and be my own publisher. I'll have four hundred copies—no, five—six hundred.
Aslaksen. No. If you offered me its weight in gold, I dare
