"Tell them to put up the gallows," said de Lumey, "and let this man be taken where he may hear the way a halter speaks." "Yes," said Ulenspiegel, "and I will cry out there in front of all the people, Parole de soldat n'est plus parole d'or." The gallows was set up in the market square, and the news spread swiftly through the city how Ulenspiegel, the brave Beggarman, was going to be hanged. And the populace was moved with pity and compassion, and a great crowd collected in the market square. And Messire de Lumey came there also, being desirous himself to give the signal for the execution. He regarded Ulenspiegel without pity as he stood upon the scaffold, dressed to meet his death in a single garment with his arms bound to his sides, his hands clasped together, the cord round his neck, and the executioner ready to do the deed. Très-Long said: "My Lord, pardon him now; he is no traitor, and no one has ever heard of a man being hanged simply because he was sincere and pitiful." And the men and women in the crowd, hearing Très-Long speak in this wise, cried out also: "Have pity, my Lord! Mercy and pardon for Ulenspiegel!" "The Iron-pate has defied me," said de Lumey. "Let him admit he was wrong and that I was in the right." "Will you?" said Très-Long to Ulenspiegel. "Parole de soldat n'est plus parole d'or," Ulenspiegel answered. "Draw the cord," said de Lumey. The executioner was about to obey when a young maid, dressed all in white and with a wreath of flowers round her head, ran up the steps of the scaffold like one mad, and threw herself on the neck of Ulenspiegel. "This man is mine," she said. "I take him for my husband." And the people broke into applause, and the women cried aloud: "Long live the maid, long live the maid that has saved the life of Ulenspiegel!" "What does this mean?" demanded Messire de Lumey. Très-Long answered: "You must know that by the legal usages and customs of our city any young maid or unmarried girl has the right to save a man from hanging, provided that she be willing to take him for her husband at the foot of the gallows." "God is on his side," said de Lumey. "Unloose his fetters." Then riding up close to the scaffold he saw how the executioner was endeavouring to prevent the maid from severing the cords which bound Ulenspiegel, telling her at the same time that he didn't know who would pay the price of the cords if she cut them. But the damsel did not appear even to hear him. Seeing her so hasty in her love and so cunning withal, the heart of de Lumey was softened within him, and he asked the maid who she might be. "I am Nele," she answered him, "the betrothed of Ulenspiegel, and I am come from Flanders to seek him." "You have done well," said de Lumey in a disdainful tone. And he went away. Then Très-Long approached the scaffold. "Young Fleming," he said, "when once you are married, will you still serve as a soldier in our ships?" "Yes, sir," answered Ulenspiegel.