SCENE IX
The same. Enter WILLIAM.
WILLIAM.
Father, Andrew is outside, and refuses to come in. I told him that you had called him.
SOPHY.
Come, William, let us go out to Andrew.
FORESTER.
Keep quiet, woman. Are you going to make him completely crazy with your lamentations? Either you keep quiet, or you go in there, and I shall lock you in.
[Goes solemnly to the rear door.]
Andrew! Come in at once! Do you hear?
SCENE X
The same. Enter ANDREW. ANDREW at the door; when he sees the people he is going to withdraw.
FORESTER.
Andrew, you come in. Before your superior!
[Seats himself as if preparing for trial.]
The FORESTER, SOPHY, WEILER, WILLIAM on the left. The PASTOR, WILKENS on the right. ANDREW, who dares not look any one in the face, in the centre.
FORESTER.
Come here, forester's assistant Andrew Ulrich. Where do you come from?
ANDREW. From the nursery, father.
FORESTER.
Where is your rifle, Andrew Ulrich?
[ANDREW is silent.]
FORESTER.
Who has it?
ANDREW (in a hollow voice).
Godfrey.
[FORESTER rises involuntarily.]
SOPHY (in great alarm).
Ulrich!
FORESTER (sits down again).
Here no one has anything to say, except the forester's assistant Ulrich and his superior. Andrew—
ANDREW.
Father—
FORESTER.
Why do you not look at me?
ANDREW.
I no longer can look any one in the face. I want to go to America as cabin-boy. Let me go, father.
FORESTER.
Boy, it is your duty to answer when your superior asks. What is it that
Godfrey has? Out with it!
ANDREW.
I was just at my task of taking out the maple trees in the nursery—
FORESTER.
As I had ordered you.
ANDREW.
Then came—
FORESTER.
Godfrey? Go on, Andrew Ulrich.
ANDREW.
With six woodcutters from the Brandsberg—
FORESTER.
From—go on, Andrew Ulrich.
ANDREW.
He was intoxicated—
WEILER (half audibly).
As usual—
[When the forester casts a look at him, he pretends not to have said anything.]
ANDREW.
And so were the woodcutters. He had them pass the bottle round. "Here we begin," he said. "Ulrich has made a fine mess of it," he said; "for that reason he is dismissed." When he had said that I stepped forward forward—
FORESTER.
You stepped forward?—
[Rises.]
ANDREW.
And said he was a miserable slanderer. And that, moreover, he had no business to give orders in the forest.
FORESTER (straightens himself).
In the forest.
ANDREW.
And that he should go where he belonged.
FORESTER (emphatically).
Where he belonged.
[Sits down.]
And he—
ANDREW.
Laughed.
FORESTER (rises and sits down again; whistles, and drums on the table).
Go on.
ANDREW.
And said: "What does that fellow want?"
FORESTER (in a loud voice).
Andrew!
ANDREW.
Father—
FORESTER.
And you? Go on, go on.
ANDREW.
"Hasn't he plants from my forest in his hand?" [Lowering his voice.]
"Hold that thief who steals wood and plants."
FORESTER (short pause).
And they—
ANDREW.
Held me.
FORESTER.
And you—
ANDREW.
They were too many. My resistance was of no avail—
FORESTER (acting as if he were present at the fight).
Was of no avail. They were six against one.
ANDREW.
I was furious when I saw what he intended to do. They took off my clothes. I told him to shoot me, otherwise I would shoot him if he let me escape with my life. At that he laughed. They—had—to hold—me.
FORESTER (jumps up).
And he—
ANDREW (reluctantly, imploring).
Father—
FORESTER.
And he—he—
ANDREW.
He—
FORESTER (faintly).
He—
ANDREW (beside himself).
Father, I cannot say it. No man in God's world has ever dared to do that to me!
FORESTER (drawing a deep breath).
Be quiet now. Say it later—Andrew.
[Pause. He passes by ANDREW, who now steps over to SOPHY.]
Fine weather today, pastor. All at once the old rheumatism in my arm begins to bother me again.—And the gnats are flying so low. We shall have a thunderstorm before the day is over.—Andrew, he did—I never did, and a stranger—a—say nothing, Andrew—I understand you.
[Goes up and down.]
SOPHY (to ANDREW).
How unfortunate that you provoked Godfrey yesterday!
WEILER.
Haven't I foretold it?
SOPHY.
You are deathly pale. I will give you some drops—
FORESTER (drawn up to his full height, stops before ANDREW. SOPHY timidly draws back).
Listen, Andrew. And you, Weiler.
[WEILER advances.]
Open your ears! Whoever comes into my forest with a gun—you challenge him! You understand?
WEILER.
Well, yes.
FORESTER.
Those are your instructions. You challenge him! I am forester, and nobody else, and you are my servants. The master and his son may pass. But whoever else comes into my forest with a gun—do you hear?—be he who he may—whether he wears a green coat or not—he is a poacher, he is to be challenged—"Stop! Down with your gun!" As is provided in the regulations. If he throws it down—all right. If he does not throw it down—fire! As is provided in the regulations. And you, William, go without delay to town to see lawyer Schirmer. You tell him the whole affair. He is to draw up a complaint against Stein and his Godfrey, and is to file it with the court. Don't forget anything, William: that my father and grandfather held the position; that people call me the Hereditary Forester; the case of Rupert in Erdmansgrün. It probably will not be necessary, but one cannot be too careful. Don't forget that the forest is exposed toward the north and west and that Stein intends to dismiss me because I refuse to act as a scoundrel toward him. If you go now, you can be home before night. Andrew and I will accompany you as far as the Boundary Inn. There Andrew can wait for you in the evening when you return.
[To ANDREW, who is examining the guns.]
Take the double-barreled one with the yellow strap, Andrew. I am going to take the other.
ANDREW (does as told).
Mother, a muffler; I feel chilly.
SOPHY (takes one from the closet).
But you really should stay home, Andrew, after that outrage.
[_Helps him to tie the muffler around his neck.]
WILKENS.
And you don't see that you are absolutely in the wrong? You will be wilfully blind?
PASTOR.
You wish to begin a suit because of your dismissal? You cannot do that.
FORESTER (who in the meantime has girded on his hunting knife).
I cannot do that? Then it is right that he wishes to dismiss me?
PASTOR.
It certainly is unfair; wrong before the tribunal of the heart, but not before the law.
FORESTER.
Whatever is right before the heart must also be right before the law.
PASTOR.
If you would permit me to explain to you—
FORESTER.
Explain? Here everything is clear, except your cobwebs of the brain by means of which those gentlemen would like to puzzle you, so that you might lose confidence in your own common-sense. Those Buts and those Ifs! I know all about that! The Buts and the Ifs—they originate entirely in the head; the heart knows nothing of them; they are the creators of intrigues. Very well, sir, go ahead with your explanation. But confine yourself to plain Yes and No. Anything outside of that is a nuisance. The Buts and Ifs are a nuisance. Mr. Stein intends to rob me of my honor; he intends to reward my fidelity and my honesty with disgrace; in my sixty-fifth year I am to stand before the world as a scoundrel. Now, Sir, Yes or No—is that right?
PASTOR.
I am to answer Yes or No? Indeed, it is not right in the ordinary sense, but—
FORESTER (interrupts triumphantly).
Then it is not right? And if it is not right, it must be wrong. And for this purpose the courts are there, that no wrong shall be done. No man shall make me doubt my good right. And I shall break friendship forever with him who says another word to me about yielding. Amen! If only a But were required to make wrong right, then I would rather live among the savages, then I would rather be the most miserable beast on God's earth than a human being. Are you ready, boys?
ANDREW and WILLIAM.
Yes.
FORESTER.
Come then, boys. Everything else may go to the devil, sir. But right, sir, right must remain right!
[Exeunt.]
ACT III
The Boundary Inn.
SCENE I
LINDENSCHMIED; HOST. Enter MÖLLER, after him FREI.
MÖLLER.
Host, let me have a drink. [Aside.] I guess he will find his way home; Godfrey will. From the mill in the Dell it is scarcely a quarter of an hour to his house.—Good evening.
FREI (still without).
Let's take a drink while we are passing.
[Enters.]
I am going over to the duke's estate. There they are having a jolly time.
HOST.
God save us from that sort of jollity! Your health, Mr. Möller!
MÖLLER.
Fine company!
HOST.
Will you not take a seat, Mr. Möller?
MÖLLER.
Thank you. I still have to go to the blast-furnace this evening; my men have gone ahead.
[Aside, while putting the glass to his lips.]
To the happy consummation of the marriage with Löhlein and Co!
FREI.
Over yonder things are going topsy-turvy, and with us here the crisis will come today or tomorrow. The Hereditary Forester has already barricaded himself in his house.
HOST.
Nonsense! He! He is conscientiousness personified!
FREI.
One is conscientious as long as it pays. That man is a fool who remains so one hour longer. He or his people are going to shoot Godfrey wherever they find him.
[Makes a gesture.]
And the Hereditary Forester does not waste many words. In that respect I know the old fellow with his white moustache.
LINDENSCHMIED (laughing hoarsely).
Is that so?
FREI (looks at him).
Do you mean to say you are going to take Godfrey's part? Hey,
Lindenschmied?
LINDENSCHMIED (as before).
Godfrey's—
FREI.
Every child knows how much you love him!
LINDENSCHMIED (with a gesture, as before).
Ha! Ha!
FREI.
Weiler himself heard the Hereditary Forester say it. And, I tell you, what the Hereditary Forester says—that's as good as if another fellow had already done it.
LINDENSCHMIED.
He'll look out for his skin, the Hereditary Forester will.
[Softly.]
If there were no judges that sit around the green table, and if there were no—
[Indicates by a pantomime that he means the hangman.]
FREI.
His reign is at an end. He—For now it is
[Strikes the table.]
Liberty! Long life to the Hereditary Forester! And whoever has any evil intentions toward him—I am alluding to no one—
MÖLLER (hurriedly).
Here, host. Almost eight o'clock!
HOST.
Are you in such a hurry, Mr. Möller?
MÖLLER.
At the blast-furnace they are waiting for me.
HOST.
Your change—
MÖLLER (already at the door).
Never mind! Credit it to me for tomorrow.
[Exit.]
SCENE II
LINDENSCHMIED; HOST; FREI.
FREI (rises, shaking his fist after him).
Nothing shall be credited to you and fellows of your kind. Everything shall be paid to you. Lindenschmied, are you coming along to the duke's estate?
LINDENSCHMIED.
I'm going my own way. [Advances.]
Those judges around the green table! The idea, that an honest fellow should be frightened when a leaf rustles, and look behind him to see whether the constable isn't after him!
FREI.
We'll knock it down—the green table—I tell you. We'll see to it that in ten years from now nobody will be able to get any information as to what sort of thing a constable ever was. Now it is Liberty, and Order has ceased to exist: everybody can do what he pleases. No more constables, no green table, I tell you. No tower, no chains. If the Lord had created the hares expressly for the nobleman, he would at once have stamped his coat of arms into their fur. That would have been an easy matter for a person like the Lord. Now men know that those who are in prisons are martyrs worthy of veneration, and that the noblemen are rascals, be they ever so honest. And the industrious people are rascals, for it is their fault that honest people who do not like to work are poor. That you can read printed in the newspapers. And if the Hereditary Forester gets hold of Godfrey [pantomime] nobody can hurt him for that; for Godfrey got honest people into prison, when they had stolen.
LINDENSCHMIED.
And he will not be punished? No? And another fellow neither, if he does it?
FREI.
Another fellow neither, I tell you. Over yonder the honest people set fire to the castle and plundered it; several people lost their lives in the affair; nobody cares a fig. Lucky he who now has an old grudge. And Ulrich need not run far. Godfrey is reeling around there in the Dell; he's lost his hat—
LINDENSCHMIED (puts his hands with convulsive haste into his pockets).
And nothing—absolutely nothing—not even a blunt knife about me!
SCENE III
The same. Enter ANDREW.
ANDREW (entering).
Isn't it close in here! [Takes off his muffler.] Good evening.
[Wraps the muffler around the lock of the gun, and puts the gun next to him against the wall.]
I advise every one not to touch this; the gun is loaded.
[To the host.]
I do not know what is the matter with me. All at once I began to feel so badly out there. I was going to wait for my brother at the boundary. HOST.
Make yourself at home, Mr. Andrew.
ANDREW.
I suppose William has not yet come.
[Throws himself on a bench, puts his arms upon the table and rests his head upon them.]
FREI (rattles his glass on the table).
Let me have another one, host. And it is a favor that I now drink in your place, when you still charge for it. In a week from now you will have to provide the stuff, and no honest man need pay you a penny for it, I tell you.
LINDENSCHMIED (from this point on incessantly casting furtive glances sometimes at ANDREW, sometimes at the gun).
If he would only go to sleep—that fellow!
[Leaning across the table, secretly to FREI.]
There in the Dell, you say?—And are you quite sure, Frei, that nothing will be punished any longer?
FREI.
Superstition, I tell you! If you do something, and they hang you, you may call me a rascal for the rest of your life. Look here! What formerly was called fidelity and honesty, that's a tale with which old grannies used to humbug us. And a fellow that keeps his word is a scoundrel; such a one I would not trust as far as the door. The common people are essentially honest, because they are the common people. You ought to hear those gentlemen over there talk; there was a professor among them; he ought to know.
LINDENSCHMIED (leads him aside).
But what about conscience? And about the hereafter?
FREI.
All superstition! Nothing else, let me tell you.
LINDENSCHMIED.
That's what I always thought. But formerly a person was not allowed to say such things.
FREI.
They humbugged people with heaven and hell, so that our noble and gracious master might keep his hares all to himself. They have drummed a conscience into poor people in their childhood, so that they should submit patiently when the rich are living in luxury and extravagance.
LINDENSCHMIED.
And he is in the Dell?
[HOST becomes attentive.]
FREI.
Who?
LINDENSCHMIED.
That—
[Buttons his coat.]
FREI.
Where are you going?
LINDENSCHMIED.
To pay debts before another day comes.
[While he watches ANDREW furtively, he fumbles with his left hand in his vest-pocket, in order to pay the host.]
Why, I can't get it out with—
FREI.
The fingers of your left hand are stiff.
LINDENSCHMIED (with a pantomime).
Those of my right will soon become crooked.
FREI.
Have you had a stroke?
LINDENSCHMIED (laughing hoarsely).
Yes, a leaden one. Two ounces of powder and three of buckshot.
[Constantly speaks in a subdued voice, so as not to awaken ANDREW.] A memorandum from that fellow in the Dell.
FREI.
From Godfrey?
LINDENSCHMIED.
Because I coined money out of the deer belonging to the owner of
Strahlau. There was enough uncoined money running about in the forest.
FREI.
Let me have another one, host.
[Holds out his glass.]
LINDENSCHMIED (lost in thought, alone in the foreground).
Six times I ran out where he was to pass; but he did not come. At that time conscience was still the fashion. Then I thought: "It is not to be now," and postponed it to some time when he should come along by accident, so that I should be obliged to see that it was to be. For whole nights it choked me like a nightmare and wasted my body, that I should not lay hands on him, and now—ha! ha! ha!
[Gives a short convulsive laugh, thus rousing himself out of his thoughts; looks around embarrassed.]
FREI.
Did you laugh, Lindenschmied?
LINDENSCHMIED.
I don't know whether it was me.
FREI.
You have a queer laugh. Are you going along, Lindenschmied, into the ducal territory?
LINDENSCHMIED (slaps him on the shoulder).
Man, now we have liberty! I have my own way.
FREI.
I don't care.
[Steps to the background to the host.]
What do I owe you on this last occasion that it is necessary to pay?
There; give me change.
HOST.
You have had three, four—
[LINDENSCHMIED has availed himself of the moment when no one is looking at him to take away ANDREW'S gun furtively, and hurries out with it.]
FREI.
What is the time, host?
HOST.
Past eight.
FREI (going out).
Good-by.
SCENE IV
HOST; ANDREW.
ANDREW (starts up).
Eight? Now William may come.
HOST (approaches ANDREW timidly).
You are an honest man. To you I may unburden my mind. They are an abominable set—those that just left. They let fall some words. Godfrey is drunk in the Dell, and Lindenschmied, his mortal enemy, has gone after him. And what didn't he say! He was talking of making his fingers crooked. And that fellow is capable of everything!
ANDREW.
You believe Lindenschmied intends to have Godfrey's life?
HOST.
I have said nothing. If I expose their plot, they will burn my house over my head. And if I do nothing—
[Walks up and down.]
ANDREW (was about to rise, but sits down again).
To save that fellow? Let happen to him what God permits. I will not turn a finger to save him.
HOST (as before).
What shall I do?
ANDREW.
Father says: When a person is in distress every decent man must come to his assistance, and when it's all over he may ask: Whom did I assist?
[Illustration: MOSES ON MT. SINAI SCHNORR VON CAROLSFELD].
HOST.
Perhaps I had better inform? But—
ANDREW (rises with sudden decision).
I am going. I will see whether I can find Godfrey. I am sure nothing will happen to William. It is only a few steps from here to the house. What am I looking for? My muffler. There in my temples something is hammering and buzzing. What did I do with it? I tied it around the gun.
[When he cannot find it.]
But where is my gun?
HOST.
You miss your gun?
ANDREW.
I put it right here. The one with the yellow strap.
HOST.
Only a moment ago I saw it standing there.
ANDREW.
Did you take it up, perhaps?
HOST.
I? I have not touched it. Good heavens! If Lindenschmied—you were resting, and I was just counting. What is to be done?
ANDREW.
Nothing. I go without my gun. I have no time to get another one from home.
HOST.
But unarmed—
ANDREW.
Never mind! If that pain in my chest only does not become worse.
[At the door.]
I only hope I shall not be too late.
[From without.]
Good-night, host.
[Exeunt both.]
SCENE V
In the Dell. Picturesque forest glen; in the background the brook right across the stage; on the other side rocks, along which a steep, narrow path runs parallel with the brook. Twilight.
Enter ROBERT with a gun on his shoulder; KATHARINE.
KATHARINE.
How gruesome it is here! We have gone a long way from the mansion. Where are we now, Mr. Robert?
ROBERT.
In the Dell, Katharine.
KATHARINE.
In the Dell? Where one is never safe? Where there are always poachers from across the Duchy's frontier?
[Looks about timidly.]
ROBERT.
Don't be afraid, little one. We have a reliable companion with us—
[Putting his hand on his gun.]
Do you see over there?
KATHARINE.
Something glimmering like a white wall with dark shutters—
ROBERT.
That is the forester's house.
KATHARINE.
Really? Yes, thank heaven! Now I see the stag's horns on the roof-tree outlined against the evening sky.
ROBERT.
Here is the letter. But you must not carry it so openly in your hand.
Have you thought of some pretext, in case the old man should meet you?
KATHARINE (bashful, and smiling with self-satisfaction).
Oh, Mr. Robert, do you suppose a girl is so stupid? Don't worry about that. My little sisters take knitting and sewing lessons from the young lady—so—
ROBERT (folds the letter, which he was reading).
Here it is, Katharine. But give that letter only into Mary's or her mother's hands; to no one else, neither to Andrew nor William. Only into her own or her mother's hands.
KATHARINE.
But must I go all alone so far?
ROBERT.
It is scarcely two gunshots. Nobody must see me in the vicinity of the forester's house. When you go home, you follow the road. Only in case you should not succeed in delivering the letter come back.
KATHARINE.
But surely you will not go away?
ROBERT.
No, Katharine, I shall remain here.
[Exit KATHARINE.]
SCENE VI
ROBERT, alone; later, GODFREY; finally MÖLLER with two workingmen.
ROBERT (looks for some time after KATHARINE; then walks up and down).
I wonder whether she will come? Whether she will leave her father for my sake?
[Stops.]
I shall go into the world as a hunter. I am young, strong, and understand my profession thoroughly—why should I not succeed?
[Losing himself in thought.]
And then—when I come home from the forest—healthily tired out by my work in the open air—and she has been watching for me—and comes to meet me—and takes my gun, so as to have something to carry—and hangs it on her shoulder—and my hunter's house standing like that one yonder—the trees rustling—and I holding her in my arms, exclaiming jubilantly: Only that happiness is happiness which one owes to one's own efforts!—And then—
[The report of a gun is heard, and startles him.]
GODFREY (still behind the scenes, groaning).
Scoundrel!
ROBERT.
What is that?
GODFREY (staggers upon the scene; ROBERT hurries toward him and catches him just as he is falling down).
I—am—done for—
ROBERT.
Godfrey! For heaven's sake! Has some one shot you? Hallo! Is nobody near? Hallo! Help!
MÖLLER (behind the scenes).
Hurry up, men! Over there! The shouting comes from the path!
ROBERT.
People are coming. Come here, come here! Help!
MÖLLER (as before).
That is Mr. Robert's voice.
ROBERT.
If help is to be of any avail here, it must come quickly.
[Opens GODFREY'S coat and vest.]
MÖLLER.
To be sure, it is you, Mr. Stein.
[Enters with two workingmen.]
But—
ROBERT.
Möller, is that you? Look here what has happened!—Are you still alive,
Godfrey?
GODFREY.
Still—but—
MÖLLER (coming up).
Godfrey! Merciful heavens!
ROBERT.
Shot from ambush. The bullet entered at the back.
MÖLLER.
Godfrey, speak! Who did it?
GODFREY.
He had—the rifle—with the yellow strap—
ROBERT.
Andrew's rifle?
GODFREY.
He—threatened—to shoot me—
ROBERT.
It is not possible.
MÖLLER.
Was it Andrew, Godfrey?
GODFREY.
Andrew—yes—
MÖLLER.
He is dying.
[Pause.]
Take him up, men. And you, Mr. Stein—this here is a nest of murderers.
Come along. There are others about here lying in ambush. Just now we met
Weiler with a gun—that vicious fellow. He was out spying, that's clear.
It is a regular hunt. Come along! But, for heaven's sake, why will you
not—
ROBERT.
Never mind! Go ahead.
MÖLLER.
But what do you intend to do? And your father—if I leave you alone in danger—if I do not bring you home with me! How will he ever believe me, that I tried to persuade you?
ROBERT.
Why, you have witnesses here with you. When I say a thing I mean it—I am going to stay here.
[Walks up and down in agitation.]
MÖLLER.
Well, come along, men. You have heard it.
[While going out.]
Good heavens! How will it all end?
[The men have lifted up the corpse; exeunt with MÖLLER.]
SCENE VII
ROBERT, alone; then ANDREW; finally LINDENSCHMIED.
ROBERT.
Disgraceful! Disgraceful! Could it be possible that Andrew was capable of this kind of revenge? And I must believe it—I must! The dying man said it; he had threatened him with it—it was his gun—and all this is real—here the murdered man died—here is—with his blood he wrote it in the turf, so that I can have no doubt. And such men stand between me and my happiness? Take a firm stand, Robert; here everything is at stake. You are dealing with men who are afraid of no crime. Who comes there? It is Andrew himself. [Shouting to ANDREW, who is not yet visible.] Come on! If you are looking for me, murderer! You shall not find me defenseless and unwary as Godfrey—
ANDREW (entering, pale and tottering).
Godfrey?—
ROBERT.
There they carry him. He has been murdered, and you have done it.
ANDREW (angrily).
I, Robert?
ROBERT.
The murdered man recognized you and your gun—and your conscience betrays you.
ANDREW.
Hear me—for God's sake!
[LINDENSCHMIED comes stealing along the rocky path in the background.]
ROBERT.
Flee, murderer! Every step carries you nearer the gallows! Here is the blood that accuses you, and you yourself carry the confession on your pale face. The fever that shakes you testifies against you.
ANDREW.
May the fever rack your bones, shameless liar! The gun was stolen from me by Lindenschmied, who was on the lookout for Godfrey. I hurried after him as soon as I learned it. I fell in a swoon—by sheer will-force I recovered from the swoon—and—
ROBERT.
You say it is Lindenschmied who—
ANDREW.
If you do not believe me, look there toward the rocky path—
ROBERT.
Murderer, stand! Or I shoot you down!
[LINDENSCHMIED hurries across the stage on the rocky path. ROBERT follows him below.]
ANDREW (totters after him).
Be careful, Robert! The man is desperate—it is a matter of life and death.
LINDENSCHMIED.
Stand back! I'll shoot.
ROBERT (also behind the scenes).
Down with your gun, and stand!
ANDREW.
He is taking aim—jump aside, Robert!
[Two shots are heard in succession.]
Now it is done!
[Disappears in the bushes.]
* * * * *
SCENE VIII
The Manor House.
Enter STEIN, uneasy; then BASTIAN; later, the PASTOR.
STEIN.
I wonder whether Möller forgot to send some one to look for Robert? Or should the boy—that quarrel with Andrew! Bastian!
[BASTIAN appears at the door.]
Where is the bookkeeper?
BASTIAN.
Toward evening he went to the blast-furnace.
STEIN.
Hasn't Robert been home again since noon?
BASTIAN.
Mr. Robert made preparations for a journey, and then went away with
Katharine, the Steward's daughter.
[STEIN makes a sign of dismissal. Exit BASTIAN.]
STEIN.
And the pastor—he might have been back long ago.
BASTIAN (at the door). The pastor.
STEIN. In the nick of time!
[The PASTOR appears.]
STEIN (shakes hands with him).
At last! At last! Have you good news?
PASTOR (shrugging his shoulders).
It might be better.
STEIN.
Did you meet that hothead, Robert?
PASTOR.
No.
STEIN.
I was in hopes, because you stayed away so long, that you would bring him with you.
PASTOR.
A sick person, to whom I was called while on my way to you, kept me until now.
STEIN.
Then fancy that you are coming from a sick person to one more seriously sick. If impatience, dissatisfaction with oneself, evil presentiments, were diseases, then I should be a dangerous patient.—But your answer—I don't even give you time to catch your breath. [Motions to him to take a seat; sits down, but rises again.] If at least I could remain seated! Six times I mechanically took my hat in my hand; to that extent my old habit of being together with the forester makes my hands and feet twitch worse than the gout. In the meantime a thought struck me—but first of all: How do matters stand with the obstinate old fellow?
PASTOR.
Your offer did not exactly meet with the kindest reception. And yet, who knows whether, after all, he had not agreed to it, if unfortunately the affair with Andrew—
STEIN.
With Andrew? What affair?
[Jumps up.]
You don't mean to say he has come to blows with Robert?
PASTOR.
This time only with Godfrey—
STEIN (sits down again).
You see I am trembling with impatience.
PASTOR.
Godfrey, intoxicated as usual, treated him like a prowling thief, had him whipped—
[STEIN jumps up again.]
PASTOR.
Then it was no wonder that the old man would no longer listen to anything, and gave orders to treat as a poacher every one, except you, who enters the forest with a gun.
STEIN (who has been walking up and down).
Bastian!
[BASTIAN appears at the door.]
As soon as Möller comes the scoundrel shall be deposed, the brute shall be locked up—do you hear?
BASTIAN.
The bookkeeper?
STEIN.
Godfrey—and Möller with him, if he—come, pastor.
[Takes his hat and cane. Exit BASTIAN.]
PASTOR.
You intend—
STEIN.
You ask?—I am going to the old man! I am going to brush away those caprices in spite of all Wilkens and Möllers!
PASTOR.
That's right! I am with you. [Rises.]
STEIN (stops).
Wait a moment, parson. Am I to have had that good idea in vain? Listen, what came into my mind a little while ago—as if straight from heaven! Parson, what do you say if this very day I should transfer Düsterwalde to Robert as his own independent property? He could reinstate the old man with all honors, and nobody's dignity would be hurt. I shall immediately draw up the deed of transfer. Go quickly to the forester's house, parson.
PASTOR.
With this message—
STEIN.
Before the old man, or the hotheaded boys, or all three, do something impetuous which—
[Makes preparations for writing.]
PASTOR.
And tomorrow—
STEIN.
As if today had never been—
PASTOR.
Mr. Stein comes as usual around the corner of the forester's house and knocks at the window, and the white moustache inside grunts his "Immediately—"
STEIN.
And if you meet Robert—
PASTOR.
I shall be the first one to congratulate the new proprietor of
Düsterwalde.
STEIN.
And today you bring them all along—the old man, the boys, the mother and the bride. Then[advances to the pastor at the door], as a preliminary celebration we'll crack a bottle of my oldest Johannisberger. But what is the matter out there? Who comes rushing up the stairs?
[At the door.] What has happened?