"Perhaps the English," volunteered Hans, cutting huge mouthfuls of bread and grey sausage.
The Prussian flushed and his lip curled.
"The good God helping me," he said, "here is one Prussian who will never give up his fighting until they sign peace, or death steps in."
"Bravo!" cried Herr Schmelze, coming in at the door. "If there were more who felt that way, Jena this morning would not be Napoleon's. The Fatherland is full of indifference, nicht wahr?"
"The Germans are asleep," said the soldier, "the whole nation is dreaming."
Herr Schmelze smiled drily.
"There was something loud enough to wake them, yesterday, nicht wahr?" And he looked at the other two and laughed sarcastically.
As for Hans, he moved uneasily.
"That a man must grow too old to fight," he said. Then he offered to show the soldier the way towards Erfurt, where the remainder of the army was gathering.
Frau Schmelze put down her work and whispered in the ear of her husband. He nodded.