Smilingly he
shook his head, and holding up his hand for silence, addressed them.
"Take your seats, comrades; and, Greusel, if you force me to give a
command, I order you into that chair without further protest."
Greusel, with evident reluctance, obeyed.
"Truth to tell, brothers, I have but a few moments to stop. I merely
dropped in to enjoy a sip of wine with you, and to offer a proposal
that, within five minutes, will make me the most unpopular man in this
room, therefore you see my wisdom in refusing a chair from which I
should be very promptly ejected."
One of the members poured a tankard full of wine from a flagon, and
handed it to Roland, who, saluting the company, drank.
"You did not divide the money, Greusel?"
"No, Roland. We gave each man five hundred thalers, to keep as best he
might. We then concealed the rest of the gold between the bottom of the
boat and its inner planking. Ebearhard and I construed your orders
somewhat liberally, conceiving it was your desire to get our treasure
and ourselves safely into Frankfort.
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