WILLIAM (while entering).

Father, Lora Kramer came to the fence, and said that Stein was beside himself—­that shots had been heard in the forest—­that Robert was missing, and that Stein had sent Moeller into town; he was to get the soldiers; they were to arrest the whole band of murderers from the hunter’s house, he said.  She also said that Moeller had passed Kramer’s house at full gallop.  They might be expected to arrive before one o’clock.

FORESTER (while SOPHY steps out of MARY’S room).

What have you still to do outside?

[Looks about him.]

WILLIAM.

In the garden, father.  Mother, there was nothing in the arbor.

SOPHY (remains at the door).

Then somebody must have brought it in.

[To the FORESTER.]

Are you looking for anything?

FORESTER.

I?  No.  Yes, the rifle with the yellow strap.  Where can that be?  Perhaps in Mary’s—­

SOPHY (involuntarily covering the door, quickly).

There is no rifle in Mary’s room.

WILLIAM.

To be sure, Andrew took it along when he went to accompany me.

FORESTER.  True. [Shows the muffler.]

There, I have somebody’s muffler in my pocket!  Is it yours, William?

SOPHY.

The red and yellow muffler?  That belongs to Andrew.

FORESTER.

He left it around yesterday, and absentmindedly I must have put it in my pocket.

SOPHY.

Yesterday?  Only today, before you went, I gave it to him.

FORESTER.

You gave it to—­all right!

SOPHY (comes nearer).

Yes, yes.  That is Andrew’s muffler.

[She examines it.]

Here is his monogram.

FORESTER (wishes to take it from her).

Give it to me.

SOPHY.

It is wet!—­And what blood is that upon the muffler?

FORESTER.

Blood?

[Suppresses his emotion.]

It’s from my hand.  I cut it on the lock of the gun.  Never mind!

SOPHY (busies herself on the other side of the stage).

FORESTER.

William, come here.  Read to me.  There in the Bible, begin where the book-mark is.

WILLIAM.

In the middle of the chapter?

FORESTER.

Beginning at the mark there.  Go on!

[Gets his hat.]

WILLIAM (reads).

“And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall—­”

FORESTER.

That isn’t it.

[Hangs the gun over his shoulder.]

WILLIAM.

“And he that killeth any man”—­is that it?

FORESTER (profoundly moved, comes a step nearer).

No—­but go on reading.

[He stands next to WILLIAM. During the following he involuntarily takes off his hat, and folds his hands.]