A round to the maid in the mask!"
Why, man, you look like a death's head! You are too sober! Shame on you, and you a German!'
'An Italian were as good a toper!' one of the men beside him growled.
'Or a whey-fed Switzer!'
'Perhaps you are better with the dice!' the captain, intendant, or what he was, continued. 'You will throw a main? Come, for the honour of your mistress!'
I had nearly a score of ducats of my own in my pouch, and so far I could pay if I lost. I thought that I might get some clue to Tzerclas' nature and plans by humouring the man, and I assented.
'The dice, lads, the dice!' he cried. Ludwig, the others called him.
'"Ho, the roof shall be red
O'er the heretic's head,
For bold Pappenheim's raiding the lea!"
The dice, the dice!'
'Your guest looks scared,' one said, looking at me grimly. 'Perhaps he is a heretic!'