"They were the Duke's last resource," replied the musician; "but if he had trusted to such men as you, the League would still be at Ulm."
"You have spoken a true word there, my hearty friend!" said the captain. "He ought to have preferred the lansquenets before those Swiss dogs. And if he trusts to them now, I know what will happen. I say it again: he should take lansquenets. Is it not so, Magdeburger?"
"That's my opinion also," said the Magdeburger: "no other than lansquenets can seat the Duke upon his chair again. The Swiss only know how to use their long halberds; that's all their art. But you ought to see us load our guns, how we lay them in the fork, and fire them with a match. No one can come near us in that manœuvre. The Swiss take half an hour to fire their guns, but we only half of a quarter."
"With all respect, gentlemen of this noble corps," said the peasant, raising his cap respectfully, "the Duke should certainly have thrown himself upon your bounty. But the League rewarded you too well for the poor Duke to be able to crave your assistance."
"Rewarded, did you say?" cried the captain of the fifth company, and laughed; "yes, those Swabian dogs would have melted gold out of lead if they could! But I say they paid us ill, and if his grace the Duke will take me, my services are at his command."
"You are right, Staberl," said the general, and stroked his beard. "Morbleu! the cat likes to have his back stroked:--if the Duke pays well, the whole corps will join him."
"Well, you shall soon see that," said the peasant, with a cunning smile; "have you had an answer to your message to the Duke?"
The general's whole countenance became as red as fire at this question. "Mordelement! Who are you, child of man, who knows my secret? Who told you I had sent to the Duke?"
"Did you, Peter, send to him? What secret have you between each other that we should not know? Tell us immediately," said the Magdeburger.
"Well, I thought it was my duty to think for you all again, as I always have done, and sent a man to the Duke in our name, and with our compliments, to know if he required our services? Our terms were, half a broad piece a man per month, and for us generals and captains a gold florin, with four measures of old wine."