letting call the nigromancer, said to him, 'I
will have thee see what a treasure thy skill hath gotten me.' Then,
going to meet her, he received her with decency and reverence, without
ensuing any disorderly appetite, and they entered all[454] into a
goodly chamber, wherein was a great fire. There he caused set her a
seat and said, 'Madam, I prithee, if the long love I have borne you
merit any recompense, let it not irk you to discover to me the true
cause which hath brought you hither at such an hour and in such
company.' The lady, shamefast and well nigh with tears in her eyes,
answered, 'Sir, neither love that I bear you nor plighted faith
bringeth me hither, but the commandment of my husband, who, having
more regard to the travails of your disorderly passion than to his
honour and mine own, hath caused me come hither; and by his behest I
am for this once disposed to do your every pleasure.' If Messer
Ansaldo had marvelled at the sight of the lady, far more did he
marvel, when he heard her words, and moved by Gilberto's generosity,
his heat began to change to compassion and he said, 'God forbid,
madam, an it be as you say, that I should be a marrer of his honour
who hath compassion of my love; wherefore you shall, what while it is
your pleasure to abide here, be no otherwise entreated than as you
were my sister; and whenas it shall be agreeable to you, you are free
to depart, so but you will render your husband, on my part, those
thanks which you shall deem befitting unto courtesy such as his hath
been and have me ever, in time to come, for brother and for servant.'

[Footnote 454: _i.e._ Ansaldo, Dianora and the nigromancer.]

The lady, hearing these words, was the joyfullest woman in the world
and answered, saying, 'Nothing, having regard to your fashions, could
ever make me believe that aught should ensue to me of my coming other
than this that I see you do in the matter; whereof I shall still be
beholden to you.' Then, taking leave, she returned, under honourable
escort, to Messer Gilberto and told him that which had passed, of
which there came about a very strait and loyal friendship between him
and Messer Ansaldo. Moreover, the nigromancer, to whom the gentleman
was for giving the promised guerdon, seeing Gilberto's generosity
towards his wife's lover and that of the latter towards the lady,
said, 'God forbid, since I have seen Gilberto liberal of his honour
and you of your love, that I should not on like wise