found her
countenance quite changed towards him, and therefore urged his suit more
eagerly than had been his wont; but she, knowing by heart the part
she had to play, made objection of her poverty, and said that, if she
complied with his desire, she would be turned away by her mistress, in
whose service she looked to gain a good husband.

The gentleman forthwith replied that she need give no thought to any
such matters, since he would bestow her in marriage more profitably than
her mistress would be able to do, and further, would contrive the matter
so secretly that none would know of it.

Upon this they came to an agreement, and, on considering what place
would be most suited for such a fine business, the girl said that she
knew of none better or more remote from suspicion than a cottage in the
park, where there was a chamber and a bed suitable for the occasion.

The gentleman, who would not have thought any place unsuitable, was
content with the one she named, and was very impatient for the appointed
day and hour to come.

The girl kept her word to her mistress, and told her in full the whole
story of the plan, and how it was to be put into execution on the morrow
after dinner. She would not fail, said she, to give a sign when the time
came to go to the cottage, and she begged her mistress to be watchful,
and in no wise fail to be present at the appointed hour, in order to
save her from the danger into which her obedience was leading her.

This her mistress swore, begging her to be without fear, and promising
that she would never forsake her, but would protect her from her
husband's wrath.

When the morrow was come and dinner was over, the gentleman was more
pleasant with his wife than ever, and although this was not very
agreeable to her, she dissembled so well that he did not perceive the
truth.

After dinner she asked him how he was minded to pass away the time, and
he answered that he knew of nothing better than to play at "cent." (3)
Forthwith everything was made ready for the game, but the lady pretended
that she did not care to take part in it, and would find diversion
enough in looking at the players.

3 This is probably a reference to the card game now called
piquet, usually played for a hundred points. It is one of
the oldest of its kind. See Rabelais' _Gargantua_, book i.
chap, xxii.--L.

Just before he sat down to play, the gentleman failed not to ask the
girl to remember