Then the heart of the prodigal son swelled with grief, and he said: “I must go to them.”
“No,” said Nele. “First you must do what Claes told me, just before he was taken away. ‘Look to the money,’ he said, ‘it is hidden at the back of the grate. You must make sure of that first of everything, for it is the inheritance of poor Soetkin.’”
But Ulenspiegel would not hear aught and ran on quickly to the gaol. There he found Soetkin sitting at the gate. She embraced him with many tears, and they cried on one another’s neck.
Knowing that they were there, the populace began to crowd in front of the prison. Then the sergeants arrived and told Soetkin and Ulenspiegel that they were to go away at once. So mother and son returned to Nele’s cottage, which was next door to their own, and was being guarded by one of the foot-soldiers who had been sent for from Bruges in case there might be trouble during the trial and execution of Claes. For it was well known that the people of Damme loved him exceedingly.
The soldier was sitting on the pavement in front of the door, draining the last drops of brandy from a flask. Finding it was all gone he threw the flask away and was amusing himself by dislodging the stones on the path with the point of his dagger.
Soetkin went in to Katheline, crying most bitterly.
But Katheline said: “Fire! Fire! Make a hole! My soul wants to get out!” And she kept wagging her head.
XXXIX
Borgstorm, the great bell of Damme, had summoned the judges to judgment. It was four o’clock, and now they were collected together at the Vierschare, around the Tree of Justice.