"We do not believe a word of it," said the woman, lowering her voice. "Too many strangers come there who do not speak honest German. My man," she shrugged her shoulders, "has his own opinion of what they are here for."
Hans looked at her inquiringly and waited.
"It's Napoleon," said the woman, and she brought Hans his black bread and cheese.
The old man reflected as he drank.
He remembered that a little fellow who looked foreign had sent him to the house that day when they had entered the village with the Queen's party. He knew that all along his way the French had been warned against a messenger bearing a secret letter about the Secretary Lombard, who was suspected of treachery and dealings with the French. There were other matters in the letter, matters the King should have knowledge of, but how to get possession of it again the old man had no idea.
"I shall watch here, however," he concluded. "I may find out things just as useful as the letter."
For three days nothing happened.
On the night of the fourth he could not sleep because of the rattling of his window.
Rising to stop it with paper he was astonished to see a long ray of light across the snow in the garden.
"Himmel," said Hans, "it comes from next door. It must be after midnight. She has visitors."