Enter old Huss's head bookkeeper.

Huss says fiercely, "I gave you three weeks to find out why your books don't balance, and to prove that you are not a defaulter; the time is up--find me the missing property or you go to prison as a thief." Bookkeeper: "I have found it." "Where ?" Bookkeeper (sternly--tragically): "In the bridegroom's pile!--behold the thief--see him blench and tremble!" [Sensation.] Paul Hoch: "Lost, lost!"-- falls over the cow in a swoon and is handcuffed.

Gretchen: "Saved!" Falls over the calf in a swoon of joy, but is caught in the arms of Hans Schmidt, who springs in at that moment.

Old Huss: "What, you here, varlet?
Unhand the maid and quit the place." Hans (still supporting the insensible girl): "Never! Cruel old man, know that I come with claims which even you cannot despise." Huss: "What, YOU?
name them." Hans: "Listen then.

The world has forsaken me, I forsook the world, I wandered in the solitude of the forest, longing for death but finding none.