"Oh, how tired you must be to study far into the night after the labor of the day."
"Oh, that doesn't harm us, it is our recreation and pleasure. Art is the only thing which lifts men above their daily cares! I would not wish to live, if I did not possess it, and we all have the same feeling."
The ladies exchanged glances.
"But, when do you sleep? You must be obliged to rise early in the morning."
"Oh, we Ammergau people are excitable, we need little sleep. To bed at one and up at five gives us rest enough."
"Well, then, you must live well, or you could not bear it."
"Yes, we live very well, we have meat every Sunday," said the smith with much satisfaction.
"C'est touchant!" cried the duchess. "Meat once a week? And the rest of the time?"
"Oh, we eat something made of flour. My wife is an excellent cook, she was the cook in Count P.'s household!" he added with great pride, casting an affectionate glance at the plump little woman, holding a child in her arms, standing at the door of the house. He would gladly have presented this admirable wife to the strangers, but the ladies seemed less interested in her.
"What do you eat in the evening?"