Volume 9 / Act 1 — SCENE VII
Reading edition
The same. Enter MÖLLER, leading in SOPHY; WILKENS. The waltz outside is finished.
SOPHY.
But now I think that—
FORESTER.
One more turn.
SOPHY.
Everything is ready—
FORESTER.
The pastor—
SOPHY.
He sent word that we are not to wait lunch for him. But he would be here at eleven o'clock sharp for the betrothal.
FORESTER.
Then sit down and eat.
STEIN.
Please, do not let us detain you.
FORESTER.
It is immaterial whether we sit here or there. Now then! Forty in spades.
[Continuing to play.]
STEIN.
All right! Go ahead.
FORESTER (triumphantly).
Are not you thinking of Godfrey again? And the clearing? Hey?
STEIN (controlling himself).
Now you see—
FORESTER (more excited).
That the fellow is a fool—Queens are trumps.
STEIN.
I'm bearing in mind that we are not alone.
FORESTER (excited by the game).
And trump—and trump!—the forest shall be cleared!
STEIN.
That will do, I say. The idea was mine.
FORESTER.
And trump.
STEIN.
And if I—[He controls himself.]
FORESTER (triumphantly).
Well, what then?
[Puts the cards together.]
STEIN (making a desperate effort to contain himself).
And if I should wish to have it so—if I should insist upon it—then— FORESTER.
Everything would remain as it is.
STEIN.
The forest would be cleared.
FORESTER.
Nothing of the kind.
STEIN.
We'll see about that. And now the forest shall be cleared.
FORESTER.
It shall not.
STEIN.
Sir!
FORESTER (laughing).
Mr. Stein!
STEIN.
It's all right! It's all right!
FORESTER (very calmly).
As it is.
STEIN.
Not another word—
FORESTER.
And not a tree—
STEIN (rises).
No contradiction and no sarcasm! That I request. That I insist upon. I am the master of Düsterwalde.
FORESTER.
And I am the forester of Düsterwalde.
[STEIN is getting more and more excited. He shows plainly that the presence of other persons increases his sensitiveness, and he makes an evident effort to control his temper. The FORESTER treats the matter lightly, as an every-day affair. SOPHY with increasing anxiety looks from one to the other. WILKENS does not move a muscle of his face. MÖLLER exhibits his sympathy by accompanying his master's words with appropriate gestures. The entire pantomimic by-play is very rapid.]
STEIN.
You are my servant, and I command: The forest shall be cleared. If not, you are no longer my servant. The forest shall be cleared.
FORESTER.
Old hot-head!
STEIN.
Either you obey, or you are no longer forester.
FORESTER.
Stuff and nonsense!
STEIN.
And I shall put Godfrey in your place.
FORESTER.
Quite right. Congratulations.
STEIN (buttons his coat).
The forest shall be cleared.
FORESTER.
The forest shall not be cleared.
SOPHY (stepping between the two).
But—
STEIN.
I regret this exceedingly.—Mr. Möller!—I bid everybody good-day.
[Exit.]
MÖLLER.
Bravo! At last he has spoken his mind in a manner worthy of Stein and Son. Yours truly.
[Follows STEIN.]
FORESTER.
I deal—
[He looks up while shuffling the cards.]
But—well, let him go. If he can't sit for an hour without exploding, the old powder-bag—