at country who
had long sought her love, but whom she had repulsed. To him she
appealed, and right gladly and willingly he pledged himself to aid
her. She showed him where her lord concealed his clothing, and begged
him to spoil the were-wolf of his vesture on the next occasion on
which he set out to assume his transformation. The fatal period soon
returned. The baron disappeared as usual, but this time he did not
return to his home. For days friends, neighbours, and menials sought
him diligently, but no trace of him was to be found, and when a year
had elapsed the search was at length abandoned, and the lady was
wedded to her knight.

Some months later the King was hunting in the great forest near the
missing baron's castle. The hounds, unleashed, came upon the scent of
a wolf, and pressed the animal hard. For many hours they pursued him,
and when about to seize him, Bisclaveret--for it was he--turned with
such a human gesture of despair to the King, who had ridden hard upon
his track, that the royal huntsman was moved to pity. To the King's
surprise the were-wolf placed its paws together as if in supplication,
and its great jaws moved as if in speech.

"Call off the hounds," cried the monarch to his attendants. "This
quarry we will take alive to our palace. It is too marvellous a thing
to be killed."

Accordingly they returned to the Court, where the were-wolf became an
object of the greatest curiosity to all. So frolicsome yet so gentle
was he that he became a universal favourite. At night he slept in the
King's room, and by day he followed him with all the dumb faithfulness
of a dog. The King was extremely attached to him, and never permitted
his shaggy favourite to be absent from his side for a moment.

One day the monarch held a high Court, to which his great vassals and
barons and all the lords of his broad demesnes were bidden. Among them
came the knight who had wed the wife of Bisclaveret. Immediately upon
sight of him the were-wolf flew at him with a savage joy that
astonished those accustomed to his usual gentleness and docility. So
fierce was the attack that the knight would have been killed had not
the King intervened to save him. Later, in the royal hunting-lodge she
who had been the wife of Bisclaveret came to offer the King a rich
present. When he saw her the animal's rage knew no bounds, and despite
all restraint he succeeded in mutilating her fair face in the most
frightful manner. But for a certa