Fritz took off his overcoat, pulled something out of his pocket, and sat down to the table, laying down by his coffee-cup a pair of revolvers, which were just coming into use.
"Herr," cried Bräsig, "are you possessed with a devil? What are you doing with those infernal shooting-machines among the coffee-cups?"
Frau Nüssler got up quietly, took the two pistols in one hand, and the tea-kettle in the other, poured hot water into the barrels, and said, very considerately:
"So! they won't go off, now!"
"For God's sake!" cried Fritz, "the only protection that we have----"
"Herr," interposed Bräsig, "do you think you are in a den of robbers, here at young Jochen's?"
"The whole world is a den of robbers now," said Fritz, "the Herr von Rambow said that very distinctly yesterday, in his speech to the day-laborers; and therefore I have been obliged to go to Rahnstadt, and buy these two revolvers,--one is for him,--we will defend ourselves to the last drop of our blood."
Frau Nüssler looked at Bräsig, and laughed a little bashfully; Bräsig laughed heartily: "And with these things, and with a speech from Herr von Rambow, you expect to stop the mouths of the day-laborers, and turn them to other thoughts?"
"Yes, we mean to do it; my gracious Herr has spoken well to the people; he will govern them mildly, but firmly, they may rely upon that."
"Well, it is all as true as leather," interrupted Jochen.