"I could not believe it; but I went back into the room, and longed to tell my companion what the host had disclosed to me. At last I turned to him, and whispered softly,—
"'The host has told me that is Luther.'
"He, like me, could not at once believe it, and said,—
"'He said, perhaps, it was Hutten, and thou hast misunderstood him.'
"And because the stranger's bearing and military dress suited Hutten better than Luther, I suffered myself to be persuaded he had said, 'It is Hutten,' since the two names had a somewhat similar sound. What I said further, therefore, was on the supposition that I was conversing with Huldrich ab Hutten, the knight.
"While this was going on, two merchants arrived, who intended also to remain the night; and after they had taken off their outer coats and their spurs, one laid down beside him an unbound book.
"Then he the host had (as I thought) called Martin Luther, asked what the book was.
"'It is Dr. Martin Luther's Exposition of certain Gospels and Epistles, just published. Have you not yet seen it?'
"Said Martin, 'It will soon be sent to me.'
"Then said the host,—