While he ate he talked with them and the passing maids, who were full of interest in the handsome young stranger.

He told them that he was a horse-trader, and that he had been in no battle, nor would he be in any, but he saw that he was not believed, and secretly he was glad of it.

These were trim young maids and a young soldier likes admiration, even if it comes from those who in the world's opinion are of a lower rank than he.
They asked him innumerable questions, and he answered as well as he could.

He told of the troops that he had seen, and they informed him that German forces had been passing there at times all through the winter.

Princes and great generals had stopped at the farmhouse of Herr Gratz or Monsieur Gratz, as he was indifferently called.