"When we have finished," said Poertner, "we will have a look at your
little arsenal below."
"It's a real arsenal," said Froebel, proudly. "That was rather well
managed, I think. We have managed to bring in the guns, one part at a
time and the ammunition piecemeal, in the same way. These stupid
Belgians never even suspected. It is only just lately that they have
even begun to dream that there might be danger for them if it came to
war. Before they woke up everything was here!"
"Well, your guns will be at work before many hours if all goes well,"
said Poertner. "This sausage of yours is not so bad, after all! Food
is food when you are hungry! Ah, it will be some time, at best, before
we can eat again in Berlin, my friend!"
"Yes. There will be garrison work, even after we have taken Paris.
Still, even so, it should not be so long. Three weeks perhaps--that
should be enough to beat the French this time. We are better prepared
than we were in 1870."
"So are they, I hear. Well, they couldn't be worse off than they were
then! No matter, though--we shall outnumber them from the start. Will
the English fight, do you think?"
"Pah--the English! No! They will be too busy with their troubles at
home. They will have a rebellion on their hands in Ulster. No,
England will have too many troubles of her own at home, to be able to
cross the sea to look for more.
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