breed that passion in the human animal."

"Love philtres?" queried Acour doubtfully.

"Yes, that kind of thing. One dose, and those who hate become enamoured,
and those who are enamoured hate."

"Then in God's or Satan's name, give her one. Only be careful it is the
right sort, for if you made a mistake so that she hated me any more than
she does at present, I know not what would happen. Also if you kill her
I'll dig a sword point through you. How would the stuff work?"

"She'll seem somewhat stupid for a while, perhaps not speak, but only
smile kindly. That will last twelve hours or so, plenty of time for you
to be married, and afterward, when the grosser part of the potion passes
off leaving only its divine essence, why, afterward she'll love you
furiously."

"A powerful medicine, truly, that can change the nature of woman.
Moreover, I'd rather that she loved me--well, as happy brides do. Still
I put up with the fury provided it be of the good kind. And now how is
it to be done?"

"Leave that to me, lord," said Nicholas, with a cunning smile. "Give me
a purse of gold, not less than ten pieces, for some is needed to melt in
the mixture, and more to bribe that woman and others. For the rest, hold
yourself ready to become a husband before sunset to-morrow. Go see Sir
John and tell him that the lady softens. Send men on to King's Lynn also
to bid them have our ship prepared to sail the minute we appear, which
with good fortune should be within forty-eight hours from now. Above
all, forget not that I run great risk to soul and body for your sake and
that there are abbeys vacant in Normandy. Now, farewell, I must to my
work, for this medicine takes much skill such as no other leech has save
myself. Ay, and much prayer also, that naught may hinder its powerful
working."

"Prayer to the devil, I think," said his master looking after him with
a shrug of his shoulders. "God's truth! if any one had told me three
months gone that de Noyon would live to seek the aid of priests and
potions to win a woman's favour, I'd have named him liar to his face.
What would those who have gone before her think of this story, I
wonder?"

Then with a bitter laugh he turned and went about his business, which
was to lie to the father as he had lied to the daughter. Only in this
second case he found one more willing to listen and easier to deceive.

On the following morning, as it chanced, Eve had no relish for the food
that was broug