But for the sake of a few miserable trees he surely is not going to—­

FORESTER.

Miserable trees?  Thunder!  In my forest there is no miserable tree!—­Nonsense.  There is no cause for lamentation.

WILKENS.

But Mr. Stein—­

FORESTER.

Is not going to run far.  When his anger has subsided, he will be the first one to—­he is better than I.

WILKENS.

But—­

FORESTER.

Hang it!  You always have a “But.”  That’s the way he goes on every day. 
For twenty years—­

WILKENS.

But today he is your master.

FORESTER.

Master or not.  The forest shall not be cleared.  WILKENS.  But you will lose your place.

FORESTER.

To Godfrey?  Idle talk!  Stein himself can’t bear Godfrey, and he knows what I am worth to him.  I need not sing my own praise.  Show me a forest anywhere in the whole district that can be compared to mine.—­Do you hear?  Why, there he is back again.  Sit down.  And if he comes in, act as if nothing had happened.

SCENE IX The same.  Enter MOeLLER rapidly; later, ANDREW.

FORESTER (not looking up).

Well, I deal.

[Takes the cards, notices his mistake.]

Is that you, Mr. Moeller?

MOeLLER (pompously).

At your service.

FORESTER.

Well, sit down.  Has he cooled down again, the old hot-head?  Why doesn’t he come in?  I suppose he expects me to fetch him?

[Is about to go.]

MOeLLER.

Mr. Stein sends me to ask you, sir, whether you have changed your mind.

FORESTER.

I should say not!

MOeLLER.

That you will clear the forest?

FORESTER.

That I will not clear the forest.

MOeLLER.

That means, that you are going to resign your position as forester.

FORESTER.

That means—­that you are a fool.

MOeLLER (very pompously).

I have been commissioned by Mr. Adolf Friedrich Stein, head of the firm of Stein and Son, in case you should still persist in your refusal to execute the command of your master, to announce to you your dismissal, and to notify Godfrey immediately that he is forester of Duesterwalde.

FORESTER.

And that would be a great pleasure to you—­

MOeLLER.

I am not to be considered in this matter.  What is to be considered is the firm of Stein and Son, whom I have the honor to represent.  I give you five minutes time for consideration.

[Steps to the window.]

[Illustration:  SCHNORR VON CAROLSFELD THE FINDING OF MOSES]

FORESTER.

Dismiss me?  Dismiss me?  Do you know what that means?  Dismiss a man who has served faithfully for forty years?  Good heavens, sir!  If I should do what he wishes—­then I deserved to be dismissed.  Clear the forest!  And the mountain faces north and northwest, absolutely exposed—­