couch, DR. STOCKMANN On a chair on the other side of the table.)
Now then. You mean that--?

Hovstad. You said yesterday that the pollution of the water was
due to impurities in the soil.

Dr. Stockmann. Yes, unquestionably it is due to that poisonous
morass up at Molledal.

Hovstad. Begging your pardon, Doctor, I fancy it is due to quite
another morass altogether.

Dr. Stockmann. What morass?

Hovstad. The morass that the whole life of our town is built on
and is rotting in.

Dr. Stockmann. What the deuce are you driving at, Hovstad?

Hovstad. The whole of the town's interests have, little by
little, got into the hands of a pack of officials.

Dr. Stockmann. Oh, come!--they are not all officials.

Hovstad. No, but those that are not officials are at any rate the
officials' friends and adherents; it is the wealthy folk, the old
families in the town, that have got us entirely in their hands.

Dr. Stockmann. Yes, but after all they are men of ability and
knowledge.