Part 11 (1/2)

_Bastian._ (_Softly._) Listen!

_Jean._ (_Softly._) A rolling stone in the ravine.

_Ulrich._ Another!

_Jean._ Steps!

_Ulrich._ Of horses.

_Jean._ Well?

_Ulrich._ A patrol!

_Jean._ (_Moved._) Ah!

_Bastian._ The Hussars!

_Jean._ What are they doing?

_Ulrich._ They are keeping watch.

_Bastian._ They are drilling.

_Ulrich._ Always!

_Jean._ Ah!

_Bastian._ Day and night.

_Ulrich._ Never resting.

_Bastian._ Perhaps they are trailing some deserter.

_Jean._ Ah! There are deserters?

_Bastian._ They won't tell you so in the town.

_Odile._ But we on the frontiers see them.

_Jean._ Ah!

_Bastian._ They who go out by the Grand' fontaine pa.s.s this way.

_Odile._ (_Softly._) Near our farm. From our house one can see them pa.s.sing.

_Jean._ Ah!

_Ulrich._ Chut!

_Jean._ I hear the breathing of their horses.

_Ulrich._ Be still.