The youth nodded.
"I have seen you before, here."
"Yes."
The old man watched him a minute. "You ought to have some beer with that bread and cheese," he said. "Have you no coppers?"
The youth shook his head. "Reinken is my beer," he said, after a little. His face was lighted with a sweet smile.
The old man chuckled. "Ja, ja!" He limped from the room. Presently he returned with a pewter mug. It was foaming at the top. "Drink that," he commanded.
The youth drank it with hearty quaffs and laughed when it was done. "Ja, that is good!" he said simply.
The old man eyed him shrewdly. "In half an hour Reinken comes to play," he suggested craftily.
The youth started and flushed. "To-night?"
"Ja."