“Aye, and if the priests learn of the statue, and call us both before the tribunal, and have us burnt as heretics and idolaters, what then?”
“Ah,” said Gans, “here are the good God on the one hand and the wicked devil on the other, fighting over our poor bodies, and we shall be pounded to nothing between them, alas, alas!”
“Well,” said Blaeskaek, “let us go to the good fathers openly, and tell them the whole affair.”
“Alas, alas! We shall be burnt, my good master, burnt without mercy.”
“I believe there must be some way whereby to escape this danger.”
“There is none, my friend, there is none, and we shall be burnt. I feel myself already half roast.”
“I have thought of a way,” said Blaeskaek.
“There is none, my friend, there is no way whatever, unless it be the clemency of the worthy fathers. Canst see no pilgrim or wandering friar on the road?”
“None.”
“If we see such a one we must give him all our sausage—have we said our grace for it?—and all the bread in our wallet, and humbly invite him into our house, to eat a quarter of roast lamb, well washed down with old wine. I have not much of that kind, but I will gladly give him all there is of it. Canst not see such a one coming?”