any way. You know, you have seemed to be my natural adviser as
long as we have known one another, even from my student days.

Kroll. I know, and I am very proud of the privilege. Is there by
any chance anything in particular just now--?

Rosmer. There are a great many things that I want very much to
talk over with you frankly--things that lie very near my heart.

Rebecca. I feel that is so, too, Mr. Rosmer. It seems to me it
would be such a good thing if you two old friends--

Kroll. Well, I can assure you I have even more to talk over with
you--because I have become an active politician, as I dare say you
know.

Rosmer. Yes, I know you have. How did that come about?

Kroll. I had to, you see, whether I liked it or not. It became
impossible for me to remain an idle spectator any longer. Now
that the Radicals have become so distressingly powerful, it was
high time. And that is also why I have induced our little circle
of friends in the town to bind themselves more definitely
together. It was high time, I can tell you!

Rebecca (with a slight smile). As a matter of fact, isn't it
really rather late now?

Kroll. There is no denying it would have been more fortunate if
we had succeeded in checking the stream at an earlier point. But