Pagina 397 van 788

"Silence! Whence comes all this news? How far off are the French?

Who is their leader? Have they already begun war with Moscow?

Where and on what pretext? Which way are they going to move? and

with what numbers are they comings? Have they a large force of

infantry and cavalry? Whoever knows, let him tell!"

The crowd was silent, each man gazing at his neighbour.

"I should be glad," said the Prussian, "to wait for the

Bernardine Robak, for all the tidings come from him. Meanwhile we

should send trusty spies across the border and quietly arm all

the country round; but meanwhile we should conduct the whole

matter with caution, in order not to betray our intentions to the

Muscovites."