I have judged him. As it is written there--"Eye for eye, tooth for tooth." I have judged him, because the courts no longer judge right. They have two kinds of law, and here it is written: "Ye shall have one manner of law." I have not murdered him, I have executed judgment upon him. [_He walks up and down, then loses himself in thought at the place where he believes_ SOPHY _still to be, who totters to the chair_.] But I do not know whether it did happen--what has happened. My brain is so wild and confused--[_Recollects with difficulty_] but I suppose it really did happen--what has happened--and as it was about to happen--what has happened--I saw Mary before my eyes, as if she put herself in front of him and made a sign to me to stop, and cried: "It is"--well, you know who! It was a delusion; it was only in my imagination. After I have had wine, I always am in a state that I see things which do not exist. And if it should have been she--the bullet then was no longer under any control. SOPHY. Almighty God! [_She drags herself with difficulty into_ MARY'S _room_.] FORESTER (_does not notice it and, staring before him, continues as if she were still standing beside him_). It was not she. How could Mary have come there? It is nothing but the effect of the wine, that today I see her everywhere. But nevertheless I was frightened until I saw it had only been the smoke from the gun. Everything was turning around before my eyes. But when the smoke had cleared away--that was only a moment--then I saw him--still standing as before, but only for a moment--then he collapsed--then had happened what did happen. Then I folded my hands over my gun, and said: "You have been judged according to your desert." And I prayed: "God have mercy on his poor soul." Then a swarm of owls flew up and screeched. That sounded as though they said Amen. Then I stood again erect on my feet. For God and Earth and Heaven and every creature demand justice. [_He loses himself in a brown study_.] SCENE V _The_ FORESTER, _lost in thought, alone. Then_ STEIN _and the_ PASTOR, _at first only heard behind the scenes_. STEIN (_still outside_). Ulrich! FORESTER (_awaking, mechanically_). Stein! STEIN (_as above_). Do you hear? FORESTER (_the connection of the events suddenly flashes upon him_). It did happen! [_Makes a movement as if to seize his gun; but controls himself_.] No! Not an iota more than my right! STEIN (_entering, the_ PASTOR _behind him_). Where is your Andrew, Ulrich? FORESTER. What do you want with my Andrew? STEIN. To demand my Robert from him. FORESTER. Your Robert?--From my Andrew?--Look here! [_Shows the muffler_.] PASTOR. For Heaven's sake!--There is blood on the muffler! STEIN. What is that? FORESTER.