my honoured name fully protected me from that. For the matter of
that, I could have stood the loss; but the place could not have
stood it. So the inland line was decided upon. As soon as that
was done, I assured myself--without saying anything about it--
that a branch line could be laid to the town.

Lona: Why did you say nothing about it, Karsten?

Bernick: Have you heard the rumours of extensive buying up of
forest lands, mines and waterfalls--?

Johan: Yes, apparently it is some company from another part of
the country.

Bernick: As these properties are situated at present, they are as
good as valueless to their owners, who are scattered about the
neighbourhood; they have therefore been sold comparatively cheap.
If the purchaser had waited till the branch line began to be
talked of, the proprietors would have asked exorbitant prices.

Lona: Well--what then?

Bernick: Now I am going to tell you something that can be
construed in different ways--a thing to which, in our community,
a man could only confess provided he had an untarnished and
honoured name to take his stand upon.

Lona: Well?

Bernick: It is I that have bought up the whole of them.