Nora.  No, not just at present.

Krogstad.  Or perhaps that you have some expedient for raising the money soon?

Nora.  No expedient that I mean to make use of.

Krogstad.  Well, in any case, it would have been of no use to you now.  If you stood there with ever so much money in your hand, I would never part with your bond.

Nora.  Tell me what purpose you mean to put it to.

Krogstad.  I shall only preserve it—­keep it in my possession.  No one who is not concerned in the matter shall have the slightest hint of it.  So that if the thought of it has driven you to any desperate resolution—­

Nora.  It has.

Krogstad.  If you had it in your mind to run away from your home—­

Nora.  I had.

Krogstad.  Or even something worse—­

Nora.  How could you know that?

Krogstad.  Give up the idea.

Nora.  How did you know I had thought of that?

Krogstad.  Most of us think of that at first.  I did, too—­but I hadn’t the courage.

Nora (faintly).  No more had I.

Krogstad (in a tone of relief).  No, that’s it, isn’t it—­you hadn’t the courage either?

Nora.  No, I haven’t—­I haven’t.

Krogstad.  Besides, it would have been a great piece of folly.  Once the first storm at home is over—.  I have a letter for your husband in my pocket.

Nora.  Telling him everything?

Krogstad.  In as lenient a manner as I possibly could.

Nora (quickly).  He mustn’t get the letter.  Tear it up.  I will find some means of getting money.

Krogstad.  Excuse me, Mrs. Helmer, but I think I told you just how—­

Nora.  I am not speaking of what I owe you.  Tell me what sum you are asking my husband for, and I will get the money.

Krogstad.  I am not asking your husband for a penny.

Nora.  What do you want, then?

Krogstad.  I will tell you.  I want to rehabilitate myself, Mrs. Helmer; I want to get on; and in that your husband must help me.  For the last year and a half I have not had a hand in anything dishonourable, and all that time I have been struggling in most restricted circumstances.  I was content to work my way up step by step.  Now I am turned out, and I am not going to be satisfied with merely being taken into favour again.  I want to get on, I tell you.  I want to get into the Bank again, in a higher position.  Your husband must make a place for me—­

Nora.  That he will never do!

Krogstad.  He will; I know him; he dare not protest.  And as soon as I am in there again with him, then you will see!  Within a year I shall be the manager’s right hand.  It will be Nils Krogstad and not Torvald Helmer who manages the Bank.