MonsieurandMadameFollenviedinedattheendofthetable.Theman，wheezinglikeabroken—downlocomotive，wastooshort—windedtotalkwhenhewaseating.Butthewifewasnotsilentamoment;shetoldhowthePrussianshadimpressedherontheirarrival，whattheydid，whattheysaid;execratingtheminthefirstplacebecausetheycosthermoney，andinthesecondbecauseshehadtwosonsinthearmy.Sheaddressedherselfprincipallytothecountess，flatteredattheopportunityoftalkingtoaladyofquality.
Thensheloweredhervoice，andbegantobroachdelicatesubjects.Herhusbandinterruptedherfromtimetotime，saying：
\"Youwoulddowelltoholdyourtongue，MadameFollenvie.\"
Butshetooknonoticeofhim，andwenton：
\"Yes，madame，theseGermansdonothingbuteatpotatoesandpork，andthenporkandpotatoes.Anddon’timagineforamomentthattheyareclean！No，indeed！Andifonlyyousawthemdrillingforhours，indeedfordays，together;theyallcollectinafield，thentheydonothingbutmarchbackwardandforward，andwheelthiswayandthat.Ifonlytheywouldcultivatetheland，orremainathomeandworkontheirhighroads！