him and Torello said, 'I have a mind, ere folk
know of my return, to see what manner countenance is that of my wife
in these nuptials; wherefore, albeit it is not the usance of men of
your habit to go to entertainments of this kind, I would have you
contrive, for the love of me, that we may go thither, you and I.' The
abbot replied that he would well and accordingly, as soon as it was
day, he sent to the new bridegroom, saying that he would fain be at
his nuptials with a friend of his, whereto the gentleman answered that
it liked him passing well.

Accordingly, eating-time come, Messer Torello, clad as he was,
repaired with his uncle to the bridegroom's house, beheld with
wonderment of all who saw him, but recognized of none; and the abbot
told every one that he was a Saracen sent ambassador from the Soldan
to the King of France. He was, therefore, seated at a table right
overagainst his lady, whom he beheld with the utmost pleasure, and
himseemed she was troubled in countenance at these new nuptials. She,
in her turn, looked whiles upon him, but not of any cognizance that
she had of him, for that his great beard and outlandish habit and the
firm assurance she had that he was dead hindered her thereof.
Presently, whenas it seemed to him time to essay if she remembered her
of him, he took the ring she had given him at his parting and calling
a lad who served before her, said to him, 'Say to the bride, on my
part, that it is the usance in my country, whenas any stranger, such
as I am here, eateth at the bride-feast of any new-married lady, like
herself, that she, in token that she holdeth him welcome at her table,
send him the cup, wherein she drinketh, full of wine, whereof after
the stranger hath drunken what he will, the cup being covered again,
the bride drinketh the rest.'

The page did his errand to the lady, who, like a well-bred and
discreet woman as she was, believing him to be some great gentleman,
commanded, to show him that she had his coming in gree, that a great
gilded cup, which stood before her, should be washed and filled with
wine and carried to the gentleman; and so it was done. Messer Torello,
taking her ring in his mouth, contrived in drinking to drop it, unseen
of any, into the cup, wherein having left but a little wine, he
covered it again and despatched it to the lady. Madam Adalieta, taking
the cup and uncovering it, that she might accomplish his usance, set
it to her mouth and seeing the ring,