He laughed the more, holding his sides because of the pain.
It was then that his mother saw how wet Margaret was, and she stood up, in concern, wiping her eyes quickly.
"My child, you are soaking. Herman, go downstairs, and I will put this poor girl into some dry clothes, else she will be chilled to the bone, and ill may come of it."
Herman was serious in an instant, and went away, and in less than half an hour Margaret came down with such clothes as Mistress Bengel could find. Then she told her business.
"Where is Master Tyndale? Has he left the city?" she asked, and set the soddened note her father sent by her on the table. It was so limp that the writing on its cover was scarcely readable.
Herman bent down and kissed the puzzled-looking face, and hugged her fondly, laughing the while.
"Is he gone out of the city?" she asked, because her question had not been answered.
"Come with me, little woman," said her lover; and, putting his arm about her, he led her into the front room.
Moving the table when he had made sure that the shutters were safely closed, and the window so heavily curtained that no one could look in from the street, Herman cleared the centre of the floor, removed the carpet, and tossed it in a heap into one of the corners.
"Just a word, little one," he said, before he did more; and he sat down while he spoke, the better to see his darling's face. "I never told you, but years ago my father made a discovery when he was digging for a safe place in which to hide what bit of money he had, in case of war, and he came across something. You shall see it."