The Master Builder Part 5

Oh you don't much care about doing it.

SOLNESS.

[Flaring up.] Don't care! Who dares to say that?

BROVIK.

You said so yourself just now.

SOLNESS.

Oh, never mind what I say.--Would they give Ragnar the building of that villa?

BROVIK.

Yes. You see, he knows the family. And then--just for the fun of the thing--he has made drawings and estimates and so forth--

SOLNESS.

Are they pleased with the drawings? The people who will have to live in the house?

BROVIK.

Yes. If you would only look through them and approve of them--

SOLNESS.

Then they would let Ragnar build their home for them?

BROVIK.

They were immensely pleased with his idea. They thought it exceedingly original, they said.

SOLNESS.

Oho! Original! Not the old-fas.h.i.+oned stuff that _I_ am in the habit of turning out!

BROVIK.

It seemed to them different.

SOLNESS.

[With suppressed irritation.] So it was to see Ragnar that they came here--whilst I was out!

BROVIK.

They came to call upon you--and at the same time to ask whether you would mind retiring--

SOLNESS.

[Angrily.] Retire? I?

BROVIK.

In case you thought that Ragnar's drawings--

SOLNESS.

I! Retire in favour of your son!

BROVIK.

Retire from the agreement, they meant.

SOLNESS.

Oh, it comes to the same thing. [Laughs angrily.] So that is it, is it?

Halvard Solness is to see about retiring now! To make room for younger men! For the very youngest, perhaps! He must make room! Room! Room!

BROVIK.

Why, good heavens! there is surely room for more than one single man--

SOLNESS.

Oh, there's not so very much room to spare either. But, be that as it may--I will never retire! I will never give way to anybody! Never of my own free will. Never in this world will I do that!

BROVIK.