ak
not our tongue, and are not really of us."

"They are good workmen, and M. Schenk thinks much of them."

"True. But they do not hold with the rest of us, and we do not like
them. Nor do we trust them, sir."

The man spoke in an earnest, almost a warning, tone, and Max looked at
him in some surprise. It seemed more than the mere jealousy of a Walloon
at the presence of so many men, alien in tongue and race, in a business
which had once been exclusively their own. Max had himself noticed the
two classes of workmen, but had, if he thought about it at all, put it
down as inevitable in a town so near the frontiers of three States.

"Well, never mind them, Monsieur Dubec," he replied reassuringly. "They
have not been with us long, and it may be they will be better comrades
in a few years' time. And now good-bye! Think not too much of your
accident, and it will be the better for you and me."

"Good-bye, and may the bon Dieu bless you, sir!" replied both Monsieur
and Madame Dubec in a fashion that told Max that he had gained two
friends at least, and friends whose staunchness could be depended upon
to the utmost.

M. Schenk's view of the whole affair was blunt and to the point. "You
are foolish," he said to Max, "to trouble yourself about these workmen.
They are cattle, and it is always best to treat them as such. That has
always been my way, and it has answered well. Consider them and humour
them, and the next minute they want to strike for more. Bah! Keep them
in their place; it is best so."

"But," urged Max, quite distressed as he thought of Dubec, and recalled
the accents of trembling sincerity of his spouse--"but surely many of
them are better led than driven--the best of them, at any rate? I know
little of business as yet, but something tells me that it is well for us
to get the goodwill of our men."

"It is not worth a straw," replied M. Schenk with conviction. "The
goodwill, as you call it, of your managers, and perhaps even of your
foremen, is of value, but the goodwill of your men--your rank and
file--is of no account. So long as they obey, and obey promptly, you
have all that is necessary to carry on even a great undertaking like
this successfully."

"Well," replied Max rather hotly, "all I can say is that when _I_ direct
the affairs of the firm, I shall give the other thing a trial. I don't
like the idea of treating men as cattle, and I cannot help thinking too
many men have been discharged of late be