The three hunters heard all this, and regarded each other with a strange look.
When Dubreuil had finished, he went back to his seat, and said, "You see now!"
"And where did you get that from?" asked Kasper.
"Why, my lad, it's posted up everywhere."
"Well, we are glad of it," said Materne, laying his hand on the arm of Frantz, who was rising, with flashing eyes. "You want a light, Frantz? Here is my match-box."
Frantz sat down again, and the old man placidly resumed—"So our good friends, the Germans, will not harm anyone?"
"All peaceable persons have nothing to fear; but those miscreants who rise in rebellion will have everything taken from them, which is but just, for it is not right that the good should suffer for the wicked. You yourselves, for instance, instead of harm being done to you, you would be received with welcome in the service of the allied armies. You know the country; you would be useful as guides, and you would be liberally paid."
There was a moment's silence; the three huntsmen looked at each other again; the father had spread his hands upon the table, quite wide open, as if to urge his sons to be calm. Yet he himself had turned very pale.
The innkeeper, who saw nothing of all this, continued—"You would, indeed, have much more to fear in the woods of the Baronies from those robbers of Dagsburg, La Sarre, and the Blanru, who have risen in revolt, and would like to renew the struggle of '93."
"Are you quite sure of that?" asked Materne, making a violent effort over himself.