Question

"What can be the matter now?" says Franz. Why, do you think, did he make this comment?

Answer 1

There was a bulletin-board near the town-hall. When Franz passed by it, he noticed a crowd there. He did not stop to look at it. He wondered what could be the matter then. For the last two years, they had received all the bad news from the bulletin-board-the lost battle, conscription and the orders of the commanding officer.