'What is it, a diet?' said he slowly uncovering his head.
'This is quite unexpected,' said Henniche angrily 'speaking frankly, one would think that we conspire.'
'Who does anything to-day? The work will not begin till to-morrow,' said Hammer. 'To-day everyone thinks of himself and makes a compromise with his conscience, lest he should seem to be against the rising sun by saluting the setting one; it is well known that if one turns one's face towards the West, one turns something else to the East.'
They all laughed.
'Hammer,' said Globig, 'you who know everything, tell us, what news have you?'
'Bells, bells, bells!' answered Hammer. 'Even if I knew anything I would not say, for who knows to-day, who is his friend and who his foe? One must be silent, one must cry with one eye and laugh with the other and be silent, silent! Henniche has his hat,' said he after a pause, 'are you going out?'
'I must,' said the host, 'duty!'
^Yes! it is the most important thing,' said Hammer. 'To-day, everybody serves himself--there is no more exacting master.'
'Don't you know anything new?' said Globig in a low voice coming near Hammer.
'On the contrary, I have much news, but I shall not tell it, except one item.'
All drew nearer.