And Claes, lamenting:
“Died on the rack,” said he, “my poor brother!”
And he could not recover himself out of his great sorrow. All the same, as he saw that the man was thirsty and held out his glass, he poured wine for him, but he ate and drank joylessly.
Soetkin and Nele were away during seven days; during this time the messenger from Josse lived under Claes’s roof.
Every night they heard Katheline crying terribly in the cottage:
“The fire, the fire! Make a hole: the soul would fain escape!”
And Claes would go to her, and calm her with soothing speech, then come back into his own house.
At the end of seven days the man departed and would accept no more from Claes but two carolus to feed and shelter him upon his way.