[Still incredulous.] What was it set them off?
HORNIG
Who knows? who knows? One says this, another says that.
OLD HILSE
What do they say?
HORNIG
The story as most of 'em tells is that it began with Dreissiger sayin' that if the weavers was hungry they might eat grass. But I don't rightly know.
[Excitement at the door, as one person repeats this to the other, with signs of indignation.
OLD HILSE
Well now, Hornig—if you was to say to me: Father Hilse, says you, you'll die to-morrow, I would answer back: That may be—an' why not? You might even go to the length of saying: You'll have a visit to-morrow from the King of Prussia. But to tell me that weavers, men like me an' my son, have done such things as that—never! I'll never in this world believe it.