"They may have been stopped in some way. Or perhaps they came while we were away."
"Schmidt has been here all the time taking care of the old fool there. Or are you another of the white-livered ones?"
"I've been here all through, of course. You needn't talk like that to me," said a man who had not spoken before.
Gassen laughed. "I shall say what I please and you can do what you like."
I wished with all my heart that the man would have started a quarrel; but he appeared to be afraid, and held his tongue.
"I don't mean to stay here all night," said the former speaker, whom I judged by his voice to be an older man than the others. "It isn't safe."
"What will you do with our precious 'leader' then?" was the reply with a very scornful reference to the unfortunate Baron.
"He can be kept here. There's plenty of room in the cellars."
"If you do go, we shan't want more than enough room to bury him. You can take my word for that," was the retort with a brutal laugh.
"I won't have any violence here, Gassen."