“'Tis well. Now, how was the letter folded? how big was it?”
“Longer than that one, and not so long as this.”
“'Tis well. Where is he?”
“At the hostelry.”
“Come, then, take you this groat, and treat him. Then ask to see the letter, and put this in place of it. Come to me with the other letter.”
The brothers assented, took the letter, and went to the hostelry.
They had not been gone a minute, when Dierich Brower issued from the Stadthouse, and followed them. He had his orders not to let them out of his sight till the true letter was in his master's hands. He watched outside the hostelry.
He had not long to wait. They came out almost immediately, with downcast looks. Dierich made up to them.
“Too late!” they cried; “too late! He is gone.”
“Gone? How long?”