Was he to have nothing for coming so far out of his way with them?
"Here are two batzen, friend.
"Add the wine, the good Rhenish ?" "Did you give aught for it ?" "Ay! the peril of my life." "Hum! what say you, Denys ?" "I say it was worth its weight in gold.

Here, lad, here be silver groshen, one for every acorn on that gallows tree; and here is one more for thee, who wilt doubtless be there in due season." The man took the coins, but still lingered.
"Well! what now ?" cried Gerard, who thought him shamefully overpaid already.

"Dost seek the hide off our bones ?" "Nay, good sirs, but you have seen to-night how parlous a life is mine.
Ye be true men, and your prayers avail; give me then a small trifle of a prayer, an't please you; for I know not one." Gerard's choler began to rise at the egotistical rogue; moreover, ever since his wound he had felt gusts of irritability.

However, he bit his lip and said, "There go two words to that bargain; tell me first, is it true what men say of you Rhenish thieves, that ye do murder innocent and unresisting travellers as well as rob them ?" The other answered sulkily, "They you call thieves are not to blame for that; the fault lies with the law." "Gramercy! so 'tis the law's fault that ill men break it ?" "I mean not so; but the law in this land slays an honest man an if he do but steal.

What follows?
he would be pitiful, but is discouraged herefrom; pity gains him no pity, and doubles his peril: an he but cut a purse his life is forfeit; therefore cutteth he the throat to boot, to save his own neck: dead men tell no tales.