This answer sounded so stern, that the director lost courage for making further representations; he cast a meaning glance at his colleague, and now the upper-engineer took up the theme.
"I also am convinced that the majority already begin to be conscious of having acted over-hastily. They will silently let drop that crazy petition, in which Fallner's remaining was also included. A great part will quietly work on, the others will follow sooner or later, and the whole move come to nothing, if you could make up your mind, Herr Dernburg, to show the slightest disposition to conciliate."
"No!" said Dernburg, with cold severity.
"But what is to be done with the men who go to work as usual to-morrow morning?"
"They have to make the express declaration that they are not in accord with their fellows, and intend to submit unconditionally to my requirements--then they shall be free to resume work."
"They will not come up to that," objected Winning, reflectively.
"Well, then, the workshops remain closed. We shall see who will hold out the longer--they or I!"
"Exactly my opinion," remarked Wildenrod. "That you owe to yourself and your position. You seem to be of a different opinion, gentlemen, but you will soon be convinced yourselves that this is the only right way whereby we may force the body of workmen into subjection, and that, indeed, in the shortest space of time."
The officers were silent: they were already accustomed to the Baron's thus planting himself beside their chief, and the right being conceded to him. They certainly did not deem Wildenrod's influence as especially salutary, and here he was again doing every thing he possibly could to uphold Dernburg in the stand that he had taken. But gradually they had come to see in him Dernburg's future son-in-law and the future master of Odensburg: they did not attempt, then, to controvert his position, which would have been useless; and now when Dernburg gave the sign for them to disperse, while he rose to his feet, they parted with a silent bow.
"I do believe those gentlemen are apprehensive of some sort of an insurrection," mocked Oscar, when the door had closed behind them. "They would make every possible concession for the sake of sweet peace. I am so glad that you held firm here; any yielding would have been unpardonable weakness."