"Henrik Ibsen - The Wild Duck" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ibsen Henrik)

Ekdal.
I know, I know — h'm! Thanks, Pettersen, good old friend! Thanks! (Mutters
softly.) Ass!
He goes into the Office; PETTERSEN shuts the door after him.
Jensen .
Is he one of the office people?
Petterson.
No he's only an outside hand that does odd jobs of copying. But he's been a
tip-topper in his day, has old Ekdal.
Jensen .
You can see he's been through a lot.
Petterson.
Yes; he was an army officer, you know.
Jensen .
You don't say so?
Petterson.
No mistake about it. But then he went into the timber trade or something of the
sort. They say he once played Mr. Werle a very nasty trick. They were partners
in the Hoidal works at the time. Oh, I know old Ekdal well, I do. Many a nip of
bitters and bottle of ale we two have drunk at Madam Eriksen's.
Jensen .
He don't look as if held much to stand treat with.
Petterson.
Why, bless you, Jensen, it's me that stands treat. I always think there's no
harm in being a bit civil to folks that have seen better days.
Jensen .
Did he go bankrupt then?
Petterson.
Worse than that. He went to prison.
Jensen .
To prison!
Petterson.
Or perhaps it was the Penitentiary. (Listens.) Sh! They're leaving the table.
The dining-room door is thrown open from within, by a couple of waiters. MRS.
SORBY comes out conversing with two gentlemen. Gradually the whole company
follows, amongst them WERLE. Last come HIALMAR EKDAL and GREGERS WERLE.
Mrs. Sorby (in passing, to the servant).
Tell them to serve the coffee in the music-room, Pettersen.
Petterson.
Very well, Madam.
She goes with the two Gentlemen into the inner room, and thence out to the
right. PETTERSEN and JENSEN go out the same way.
A Flabby Gentleman (to a THIN-HAIRED GENTLEMAN).
Whew! What a dinner! — It was no joke to do it justice!
The Thin-haired Gentleman.
Oh, with a little good-will one can get through a lot in three hours.
The Flabby Gentleman.
Yes, but afterwards, afterwards, my dear Chamberlain!
A Third Gentleman.
I hear the coffee and maraschino are to be served in the music-room.