Then from the village come the cracked notes of the post-horn, half drowned by the blast.
"Our time is up," he says, shivering. "I must go."
"Now--the night?" she stammers voicelessly.
He nods.
"And I shall never see you again?"
A wild scream rends the storm.
"Johannes, have pity, I cannot let you go. I cannot live without you!" Her fingers dig themselves into his shoulders. "You shall not--I will not let you."
He tries to free himself by main force.
"Ah, well--you are going--oh--you--you--you are wicked! You know that I must die if you go, I cannot--Take me with you! Take me with you!"
"Are you out of your senses, woman?" He covers his face with his hands and groans aloud.