“I am full glad of it,” replied Claes; “the informer will not laugh over my spoils.”
“Rather let him die first,” said Soetkin, her eye full of hate and without weeping.
But Claes, thinking of the carolus, said:
“Thou wast cunning, Thylken my dear boy; she will not be hungry then in her old age, Soetkin my widow.”
And Claes embraced her, pressing her body tightly to his breast, and she wept more, thinking that soon she must lose his sweet protection.
Claes looked at Ulenspiegel and said:
“Son, thou didst often sin as thou didst run upon the highways, as do wicked lads; thou must do so no more, my child, nor leave the afflicted widow alone in her house, for thou owest her protection and defence, thou the male.”
“Father, this I shall do,” said Ulenspiegel.
“O my poor husband!” said Soetkin, embracing him. “What great crime have we committed? We lived by us two peaceably, an honest simple life, loving one another well, Lord God, thou knowest it. We arose betimes to labour, and at night, giving thee thanks, we ate our daily bread. I will go to the king and rend him with my nails. Lord God, we were not guilty folk!”
But the gaoler came in and they must needs depart.