Part 41 (1/2)

In the meantime Ulenspiegel and Lamme continued their wanderings. Under the protection of their pa.s.sports, they entered one day into a little tavern built against the rocks of the Sambre, the which rocks are covered with trees here and there, and on the sign of the tavern was written mine host's name--MARLAIRE. When they had drunk many a flask of wine--wine of the Meuse, rather like Burgundy--and when they had eaten a large plate of fish, they fell talking to the innkeeper, who was a keen Papist but as talkative as he was pious because of the wine he had been drinking. And he kept on winking his eye maliciously. Ulenspiegel had a suspicion that all this winking portended something mysterious, and he made the fellow drink yet more, with the result that he fell to dancing and shouting with laughter, till at last he sat himself down at the table again, and, ”Good Catholics,” says he, ”I drink to you.”

”And to you we drink also,” answered Lamme and Ulenspiegel.

”And I drink to the extinction of all heresy and rebellion.”

”We will join you in that toast,” answered Lamme and Ulenspiegel, who kept on filling up the goblets which mine host could never suffer to remain full.

”You are good fellows,” said the innkeeper. ”Let me drink to the health of your n.o.ble Generosities. For you must know that I derive some profit from all the wine that is drunk here. But where are your pa.s.sports?”

”Here they are,” replied Ulenspiegel.

”With the Duke's signature and all,” said the innkeeper. ”Here's a health to the Duke.”

”To the Duke,” echoed Lamme and Ulenspiegel. And mine host went on talking:

”Answer me now, do you know what it is that they catch rats and mice in? Why in rat-traps to be sure, and mouse-traps. Who is the mouse then? The great heretic of Orange--and orange he is in very truth, like the flames of h.e.l.l! But G.o.d is on our side. They will come. Ho ho! A toast! Pour out the wine; I bake and burn with thirst. Come, drink, my masters. Fine little Protestant evangelists.... I said little. Fine valiant little fellows they are, and brave soldiers, st.u.r.dy as oaks.... I drink to them! Are you not going with them to the camp of the great heretic? I have certain pa.s.sports signed by him.... You will see.”

”We are going to the camp,” answered Ulenspiegel.

”Yes, they will do their work well. And one fine night, if the opportunity presents itself”--and here the innkeeper whistled, and made a gesture as of one man cutting another's throat--”cold steel, I tell you. It's that that shall prevent the black bird of Na.s.sau from singing any more. Come, drink again.”

”You're a gay fellow,” said Ulenspiegel, ”in spite of being married.”

The innkeeper said:

”I am neither married nor have I ever been. The secrets of Princes are safe with me. Drink! But if I had a wife she would steal my secrets from under my pillow to get me hanged and herself made widow before the time. Long live G.o.d! They will come.... But where are the new pa.s.sports? On my heart of a Christian. Drink! They are there, there I tell you. One hundred paces along the road near by Marche-les-Dames. Do you see them? Drink again!”

”Drink?” said Ulenspiegel. ”Yes, I drink and drink and drink. To the King, to the Duke, to the Protestant preachers, and to Vent d'acier--Wind of Lead. And I drink to thee and to me, to the wine and the bottle that holds it. But why? It is you that have stopped drinking!”

And at each new toast Ulenspiegel filled up the gla.s.s of the innkeeper, who emptied it straightway.

Ulenspiegel looked at him for some time, then rose and said to Lamme: ”Come, Lamme, it is time for us to be off. He is asleep.” But when they were outside, ”He has no wife,” Ulenspiegel continued. ”We are safe. The night is at hand. Did you hear what the rascal said? And do you rightly understand who these three preachers are? Do you realize that they are to come along the bank of the Meuse from Marche-les-Dames, and that it will be our part to await them on the road? And then for Vent d'acier--Wind of Lead--to start his whistling?”

”Yes,” said Lamme.

”It is for us to save the Prince's life,” said Ulenspiegel.

”Yes,” said Lamme.

”Wait,” said Ulenspiegel. ”You take my arquebus, and go and hide in the undergrowth among the rocks. Load it with two shots, and shoot when you hear me caw and crow.”

”I will,” said Lamme.

And so saying he disappeared into the undergrowth. And Ulenspiegel could hear quite clearly the click of the gun as Lamme loaded it.

”Do you see them coming?” he asked presently.

”I see them,” answered Lamme. ”There are three of them, marching together like soldiers, and one of them is much taller than the others.”