ROBERT (with difficulty maintaining his self-possession).
She was praying: "God, let me belong only to my father." I was about to say to her: "Mary, you are going to give me up?" Then she rushed upon me, as if she wished to protect me with her own body, made a sign and called in the direction of the forest. I saw no one; I did not understand her; I was about to ask: "What is the matter, Mary?" when—the report of a gun—she sank down in my arms; I threw myself over her; a bullet had penetrated her heart.
SOPHY.
That was her dream.
STEIN (holds ROBERT in his embrace, almost simultaneously).
She died for you!
FORESTER.
She saw me aim at him, and ran purposely into the course of my bullet. I wanted to judge and—have judged myself. Crime and punishment at the same moment! I was praying: "God have mercy on his poor soul!" I prayed for myself, and the owls screeched Amen, and meant me!
ROBERT (recoils, horrified).
Almighty God—he himself!—