"Answer me now, do you know what it is that they catch rats and mice in? Why in rat-traps to be sure, and mouse-traps. Who is the mouse then? The great heretic of Orange--and orange he is in very truth, like the flames of hell! But God is on our side. They will come. Ho ho! A toast! Pour out the wine; I bake and burn with thirst. Come, drink, my masters. Fine little Protestant evangelists.... I said little. Fine valiant little fellows they are, and brave soldiers, sturdy as oaks.... I drink to them! Are you not going with them to the camp of the great heretic? I have certain passports signed by him.... You will see." "We are going to the camp," answered Ulenspiegel. "Yes, they will do their work well. And one fine night, if the opportunity presents itself"--and here the innkeeper whistled, and made a gesture as of one man cutting another's throat--"cold steel, I tell you. It's that that shall prevent the black bird of Nassau from singing any more. Come, drink again." "You're a gay fellow," said Ulenspiegel, "in spite of being married." The innkeeper said: "I am neither married nor have I ever been. The secrets of Princes are safe with me. Drink! But if I had a wife she would steal my secrets from under my pillow to get me hanged and herself made widow before the time. Long live God! They will come.... But where are the new passports? On my heart of a Christian. Drink! They are there, there I tell you. One hundred paces along the road near by Marche-les-Dames. Do you see them? Drink again!" "Drink?" said Ulenspiegel. "Yes, I drink and drink and drink. To the King, to the Duke, to the Protestant preachers, and to Vent d'acier--Wind of Lead. And I drink to thee and to me, to the wine and the bottle that holds it. But why? It is you that have stopped drinking!" And at each new toast Ulenspiegel filled up the glass of the innkeeper, who emptied it straightway. Ulenspiegel looked at him for some time, then rose and said to Lamme: "Come, Lamme, it is time for us to be off. He is asleep." But when they were outside, "He has no wife," Ulenspiegel continued. "We are safe. The night is at hand. Did you hear what the rascal said? And do you rightly understand who these three preachers are? Do you realize that they are to come along the bank of the Meuse from Marche-les-Dames, and that it will be our part to await them on the road? And then for Vent d'acier--Wind of Lead--to start his whistling?" "Yes," said Lamme. "It is for us to save the Prince's life," said Ulenspiegel. "Yes," said Lamme. "Wait," said Ulenspiegel. "You take my arquebus, and go and hide in the undergrowth among the rocks. Load it with two shots, and shoot when you hear me caw and crow." "I will," said Lamme. And so saying he disappeared into the undergrowth. And Ulenspiegel could hear quite clearly the click of the gun as Lamme loaded it. "Do you see them coming?" he asked presently.