The Dutchman bore the insolence of Longpole with all that calm magnanimity for which his nation is famed (says Vonderbrugius). However, Sir Osborne desired his attendant to be silent, and merely begging Master Skippenhausen to carry them to their destination as soon as possible, the matter ended.
It was night before they arrived at Dunkirk; and, without troubling the reader with all the details of their disembarkation, we shall merely beg him to look into the little hall of the Flemish inn, and see the knight and Longpole seated at the same table, according to the custom of the day, which we have before alluded to, while the host, standing behind the chair of Sir Osborne, answers the various questions which from time to time are addressed to him; and that black-eyed, smooth-faced, dingy serving-boy, who one might swear was a true sun of Hans Holbein, filches away the half-finished tankard of raspis from Longpole's elbow, and supplies its place with an empty one.
"And is Sir Albert of Koënigstein gone to Ratisbon too?" demanded Sir Osborne, pursuing the inquiries which he was engaged in making concerning his old comrades, amongst whom a sad dispersion had taken place during his absence.
"Indeed I cannot tell, sir knight," replied the landlord; "but very likely he is with the Count of Shoenvelt, at Cassel."
"What does Shoenvelt at Cassel?" asked the knight thoughtfully.
"He is collecting adventurers, they say, sir, under a commission from the emperor," replied the host. "Some think, to go against the Moors; but most people judge, to protect the frontier against Robert de la Mark."
"But Koënigstein would not serve under him," said Sir Osborne, meditating over what he heard. "He is a better captain a thousand times, and a nobler spirit."
"Well, sir," answered the landlord, "I tell you only what I heard. Somebody told me so, I am sure. Perhaps they command together. Boy, give his worship another tankard; don't you see that is out?"
"Odds fish!" cried Longpole; "what! all gone? Your measures, mine host, are not like that certain knight's purse that was no sooner empty than full again. It seems to me they are no sooner full than empty."
"At Cassel did you say he is?" demanded Sir Osborne.