"And then where should we be?"
"There's no knowing," said Franz, with a sapient shake of the head. "Well, good night."
The voices at the door had been perfectly silent during this dialogue; and Hofer had once or twice heard a stifled laugh.
Franz, however, pre-occupied, and quite self-satisfied with what he considered a masterly piece of tactics, walked off.
"What a deal of trouble that young fellow has saved me, to be sure!" muttered Hofer. Then, raising his voice, "Now, then, dear children, come in and sing the vesper hymn."
