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? SCENE IX _The same_: MÖLLER, _then_ BASTIAN. MÖLLER (_comes in, beside himself_). Horrible! Horrible! STEIN. But what is the matter? MÖLLER. A murder!--A dreadful murder! STEIN. But, man alive, speak-- MÖLLER. Mr. Robert-- STEIN. My son! [_Falls into a chair_.] PASTOR. Has Robert been murdered? [_Goes anxiously up to_ STEIN.] _Enter_ BASTIAN. MÖLLER. Not yet. Not yet, I hope. But--I am quite beside myself. Ulrich's Andrew has already shot and killed Godfrey. Those from the forester's house have instituted a regular hunt for their enemies. I had Godfrey carried home. He looks horrible. The bullet entered at the left side of the spine. He died in Mr. Robert's arms. I asked him: Was it Andrew, Godfrey? It was Andrew, he said--it was Andrew--and lay down a dead man. I implored Mr. Robert to come home for God's sake; he was quite beside himself, and would not come. And I had not gone two hundred steps with my men, when two more shots were fired behind us. STEIN (_rises, beside himself_). Mount your horse at once--ride till it drops dead--only be quick--get soldiers from the town--surround the whole forest--catch that murderer's band from the forester's house! You, Bastian, get quickly my Lüttich rifle, the one that's loaded--then call the workingmen--have them armed--to--where was it, Möller? MÖLLER. At the first bridge--in the Dell, scarcely ten minutes beyond the forester's house. PASTOR. God grant that the worst may still be prevented! STEIN (_stamps his foot_). Bastian! Bastian! Why are you still standing there! Make haste! [_Exit_ MÖLLER.] And I--while--Bastian! [BASTIAN _brings the rifle_. STEIN _tears it from him_.] I am coming! Robert, hold your own! I am coming! [_Exeunt omnes_.] ACT IV _Twilight. The_ FORESTER'S _House._ SCENE I WILKENS; SOPHY. WILKENS.