“Come now, messenger,” said Claes, “will you eat and drink with us or will you not?”
The man answered: “It will be time enough for the faithful to think about such earthly joys when mighty Babylon has fallen.”
Seeing Claes and Soetkin cross themselves, he made as though to leave them. But Claes said to him:
“Since you persist in leaving us without accepting of our hospitality, will you at least give to my brother the kiss of peace on my behalf, and look after him well at the wars.”
And he departed from them, while Soetkin went to make her preparations for celebrating their good fortune.
Now it was quickly noised abroad through the town that Claes that was once so poor had now become rich through the generosity of his brother Josse. And the Dean of Damme was heard to say that it was Katheline no doubt who had laid a charm on Josse, and he said this because Claes, although he had received a large sum of money from his brother, had given not so much as a single vestment to Notre Dame. But Claes and Soetkin were happy again, Claes working in the fields or looking after his business of charcoal-burning, while Soetkin attended to her home right valiantly. Yet still was she sorrowful at heart, scanning ever with her eyes the open road if perchance she might see her son Ulenspiegel returning back to her. And thus it was these three lived on and experienced the happiness which comes from God while waiting for that which was going to come to them from men.
XXIX
The Emperor Charles had received a letter from England, from Philip, who was now married to the Queen of that country.