(Astonishment among the audience.) To that end,
I must begin by deprecating the praises with which you, Mr. Rorlund,
according to custom on such occasions, have overwhelmed me. I do
not deserve them; because, until today, my actions have by no means
been disinterested. Even though I may not always have aimed at
pecuniary profit, I at all events recognise now that a craving for
power, influence and position has been the moving spirit of most of my
actions.
Rummel (half aloud): What next!
Bernick: Standing before my fellow citizens, I do not reproach myself
for that; because I still think I am entitled to a place in the front
rank of our capable men of affairs.
Voices: Yes, yes, yes!
Bernick: But what I charge myself with is that I have so often been
weak enough to resort to deceitfulness, because I knew and feared the
tendency of the community to espy unclean motives behind everything a
prominent man here undertakes. And now I am coming to a point which
will illustrate that.
Rummel (uneasily): Hm-hm!
Bernick: There have been rumours of extensive purchases of property
outside the town. These purchases have been made by me--by me alone,
and by no one else.
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