BORKMAN. Have you? ELLA RENTHEIM. Do you not know that? BORKMAN. No, I cannot say I did---- ELLA RENTHEIM. [Looking at him in surprise.] Has Erhart not told you so? BORKMAN. I really don't remember at the moment. ELLA RENTHEIM. Perhaps he has not spoken of me at all? BORKMAN. Oh, yes, I believe he has spoken of you. But the fact is, I so seldom see anything of him--scarcely ever. There is a certain person below that keeps him away from me. Keeps him away, you understand? ELLA RENTHEIM. Are you quite sure of that, Borkman? BORKMAN. Yes, absolutely sure. [Changing his tone.] And so you have been in bad health, Ella? ELLA RENTHEIM. Yes, I have. And this autumn I grew so much worse that I had to come to town and take better medical advice. BORKMAN. And you have seen the doctors already? ELLA RENTHEIM. Yes, this morning. BORKMAN. And what did they say to you? ELLA RENTHEIM. They gave me full assurance of what I had long suspected. BORKMAN. Well?