Well!

FORESTER (notices him).

Is it you?

[Lapses again into his thoughts.]

WEILER.

It’s me.

FORESTER.

Where are you coming from at this time?

WEILER.

From the forest.  At the fence I had a talk with your William.  So, after all, you are dismissed.

FORESTER.

Because there are two kinds of right.

WEILER.

And didn’t you know that before?

FORESTER.

You have your pay for three months in advance.

WEILER.

And may go.  I know that too.  Where is your William?  Why, to be sure!  I just met him.  And your Andrew?

FORESTER (half absent-mindedly).

Not at home.

WEILER.

But I suppose you know where your Andrew is?

FORESTER (impatiently).

What else do you want?  Leave me alone!

WEILER.

All right.  It’s none of my business.

FORESTER.

Therefore I think you’d better go.

WEILER.

But to come back to Andrew.  You don’t know where he is?

FORESTER.

Always harping on Andrew?  If you have something to say, don’t be like a thunderstorm that keeps threatening for hours.

WEILER (points toward the window).

Some one is coming up across the Lautenberg.  The plovers were screeching as if in fear.  I expected it.  It was too sultry.  Ulrich [approaches him] an hour ago some one was shot.

FORESTER.

You know who?

WEILER.

You don’t know it?  If your Andrew were home—­

FORESTER.

Always Andrew!  You know something about him!

WEILER.

Well.  The rifle—­tell me, did Andrew have the one with the yellow strap?

FORESTER.

Why?

WEILER (as if lost in meditation).

Surely I know your rifle—­

FORESTER.

Do you want to drive me mad?

WEILER.

You haven’t it in the house?

FORESTER.

I won’t answer you any more.  I’m ugly enough as it is.  I have been drinking wine.

WEILER.

Take good care that you are not mistaken.

FORESTER.

Take good care that I don’t take you by the collar.

WEILER.

It’s no joke—­

FORESTER.

You shall see that it is not.

WEILER.

I know nothing but what I have heard and seen.  And now sit down.  I don’t feel like standing long.  It seems to me that I must look like my clay-pipe there.

[The FORESTER sitting down at the table to the right; WEILER has drawn a chair close to him, and talks hurriedly in an uncanny, subdued voice.]