But after a while the man continued his walk, and passed out of view; to reappear a little later at the corner of the rue Héron. Claes recognized him at once as the messenger who had brought the seven hundred ducats from his brother Josse. He went to meet him, and asked him in.
“Blessed are they that are kind to the wandering traveller,” said the man, and readily accepted the proffered invitation.
Now on the window-ledge of the cottage window lay some bread-crumbs which Soetkin kept ready for the birds of the neighbourhood, who had learnt to come there during the winter for their food. The man took these crumbs and ate them.
“You must be hungry and thirsty,” said Claes.
“Eight days ago was I robbed by thieves,” the man replied, “and since then I have had nothing to eat but the carrots I have found in the fields and roots in the forest.”
“Well then,” said Claes, “I am thinking it is time you had a good round meal.” And so saying he opened the bread-pan. “Look,” he continued, “here is a dishful of peas, and here are eggs, puddings, hams, sausages from Ghent, waterzoey, a hotchpotch of fish. And down below in the cellar there slumbers our good wine from Louvain, made after the manner of Burgundy wine, all clear and red as rubies. Only the glasses are wanting now to rouse it from its sleep. And to crown all, let us put a faggot to the fire. Already I can hear the pudding singing in the grill! And that’s a song of right good cheer, my friend!”
Claes kept turning the puddings, and as he did so he inquired of the stranger whether he had seen his son, Ulenspiegel.
“No,” was the answer.
“Then perhaps you bring me news of my brother?” Claes said, as he placed the puddings, now well grilled, upon the table, together with a ham omelette, some cheese, and two big tankards of gleaming Louvain wine, both red and white.
The man said: