"Yet one might have news more interesting, though not perhaps more important, than that," replied Marcel; "for it has rained before, and the crops have been planted and reaped likewise before."
"Even so," said the countryman, "but its importance increases when there are twenty thousand red-coats in Philadelphia to be fed."
"But is that the whole burden of your news?" asked Marcel. "We have seen others talk together as you four talk together, and we do not think it accords with nature for all Philadelphia to be agog because it rained the night before."
"Some heads hold strange opinions," said the countryman, curtly; "but why should I be held to account for them?"
So saying, he walked off with his companions.
"You can't draw blood from a turnip," said Marcel, "nor the truth from a man who has decided not to tell it."
"Not since the torture-chamber was abolished," I said, "and I would even guess that this countryman is no very warm friend to the British, from the insolent tone that he adopted towards us."
"And I would guess also that his news, whatever it may be, is something that will not be to the taste of the British, or he would tell it to us," said Marcel.
But we were not daunted by one repulse, and we decided to try elsewhere. From another little group to which we addressed ourselves we received treatment perhaps not quite so discourteous, but as unproductive of the desired result. All this we took as further proof that there was in reality something of importance afoot. At last we went into a little eating-house where strong liquors also were sold.
"Perhaps if we moisten their throats for them," said Marcel, "they may become less secretive. It is a cure I have rarely known to fail."
There were eight or ten men in this place, some citizens of the town and some countrymen.
"What news?" I asked of one who leaned against the counter. "There seems to be a stir about the town, and we ask its cause."
"You are British officers," he replied. "The British hold this town. You should know more than we."
"But this town has a population of such high intelligence," I said, thinking to flatter him, "that it learns many things before we do."
"If you admit that," he said, "then I can tell you something."