"France is pretty! united! powerful and moral!"
Little Madame Knäpple went on:
"Above all, moral!"
Voices high, low, ironical, and irritated rang out confusedly.
"Deceivers, the French! Look at their novels and plays! France is decadent! A worn-out nation! What will she do against fifty-five millions of Germans?"
Jean let the avalanche pass; he looked now at Fincken, who was gesticulating, now at von Farnow, who was silent, with head held high and frowning brows.
"I believe France is very much calumniated," he said at last. "She may be governed badly. She may be weakened by dissensions; but since you attack her, I am delighted to tell you that I look upon her as a very great nation. Even you yourselves have no other opinion."
Veritable clamours arose. Ah! Oh! Indeed.
"Your very fury against her proves this. You have conquered her, but you have not left off envying her!"
"Do you read the commercial statistics, young man?" asked the resolute voice of Herr Rosenblatt.