That will be an effective letter of introduction to him. Say
that I ask him to send his son with you as guide through the forest to
Wiesbaden; and so good-night and good luck to you."
It was long after midnight when the guild came roystering up the bank of
the Rhine to the barge. The moon had risen, and gave them sufficient
light to steer a reasonably straight course without danger of falling
into the water. Ebearhard was with them, but Greusel walked rapidly
ahead, so that he might say a few words to his chief before the others
arrived.
"I succeeded in preventing their talking with any stranger, but they
have taken aboard enough wine to make them very difficult and rather
quarrelsome if thwarted. When I proposed that they should leave the
counting until to-morrow morning they first became suspicious, and then
resented the imputation that they were not in fit condition for such a
task. I recommend, therefore, that you allow them to divide the money
to-night. It will allay their fear that some trick is to be played upon
them, and if you hint at intoxication, they are likely to get out of
hand.
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