"True, they bring many a sounding denier to the priests," they answered; "but are they not also of advantage to the souls in purgatory!" "I have never been there," answered Ulenspiegel. "Will you come dine with us?" said the prettiest of the archers. "Willingly would I dine with you," said he, "and dine off you into the bargain! You and all your companions in turn, for you are morsels fit for a king, more delicate to swallow than any ortolan or thrush or snipe!" "Nay," they answered, "but we are not for sale." "Then perhaps you will give?" he asked them. "Yea, verily," they laughed, "a good box on the ear to such as are too bold. And if needs were we would beat you now like a bundle of corn!" "Thank you," he said, "I will go without the beating." "Well then," they said, "come in to dinner." So he followed them into the inn yard, glad for their fresh young faces. And thereafter he saw the Brethren of the Jolly Face themselves, who were now entering the yard with great ceremony, and by their own jolly appearance living up most conspicuously to the name of their Guild. They scrutinized Ulenspiegel with some curiosity, till one of the women informed them who he was--a pilgrim they had picked up on the road, and whom, being a good red-face like unto their husbands and their sweethearts, they had invited to share in the entertainment. The men were agreeable to this proposal, and one of them addressed himself to Ulenspiegel: "Pilgrim on pilgrimage, what say you now to continuing your pilgrimage across some sauce and fricassee?" "I shall have need of my seven-league boots," answered Ulenspiegel. Now as he was following them into the festal hall, he noticed twelve blind men coming along the Paris road. And as they passed they were lamenting most piteously their hunger and thirst. But Ulenspiegel said to himself that they should dine that night like kings, and all at the expense of the Dean of Uccle himself, and in memory of the Masses for the dead. He accosted them, saying: "Here are nine florins for you. Come in to dinner. Do you not smell the good smell of fricassee?" "Ah!" they cried, "for the last half-league, and without hope!" "Now you can eat your fill," said Ulenspiegel, "for you have nine florins." But he had not really given them anything. "The Lord bless you," they said. For being blind, each man believed his neighbour had been given the money. And shown the way by Ulenspiegel, they all sat down at a small table while the Brethren of the Jolly Face took their seats at a long one, together with their wives and their daughters. Then, with the complete assurance that comes from the possession of nine florins: "Mine host," cried the blind men insolently, "give us now to eat and to drink of your best." The landlord, who had heard tell of the nine florins and thought that they were safe in the blind men's purse, asked them what they would like for their dinner. Then they all began to talk at once at the top of their voices: