When the time came to pay, the baes came to Lamme and said to him:
“Ten patards, if you please.”
“He has them,” said Lamme, pointing to Ulenspiegel who answered:
“I have not.”
“And the half florin?” said Lamme.
“I have not got it,” said Ulenspiegel.
“This is all very well,” said the baes: “I shall take the doublet and the shirt off both of you.”
Suddenly Lamme, plucking up bottle courage:
“And if I want to eat and drink, I,” exclaimed he, “to eat and drink, aye, drink for twenty-seven florins worth or more, I will do it. Dost thou think there is not a sou’s value in this belly of mine? Good God! it was never fed till now but on ortolans. Never didst thou carry the like under thy greasy girdle. For like an ill fellow thou hast thy tallow on the collar of thy doublet, and not like me, three inches of dainty fat on the paunch!”
The baes had fallen into an ecstasy of rage. A stammerer by nature, he wanted to speak quickly; the more he hurried, the more he sneezed and sputtered like a dog coming out of the water. Ulenspiegel threw little balls of bread at his nose. And Lamme, becoming hotter, went on: