to a convent until the storm was over. This
she did as secretly as she could, yet not so stealthily but that the
Duke was advised of it. Thereupon, with pretended cheerfulness of
countenance, he asked his wife where the maiden was, and she, believing
him to be well aware of the truth, confessed it to him. He feigned to
be vexed thereat, saying that the girl had no need to behave in that
fashion, and that for his part he desired her no harm. And he requested
his wife to cause her to come back again, since it was by no means well
to have such matters noised abroad.

The Duchess replied that, if the poor girl was so unfortunate as to have
lost his favour, it were better for a time that she should not come
into his presence; however, he would not hearken to her reasonings, but
commanded her to bid the maiden return.

The Duchess failed not to make the Duke's will known to the maiden; but
the latter, who could not but feel afraid, entreated her mistress that
she might not be compelled to run this risk, saying that she knew the
Duke was not so ready to forgive her as he feigned to be. Nevertheless,
the Duchess assured her that she should take no hurt, and pledged her
own life and honour for her safety.

The girl, who well knew that her mistress loved her, and would not
lightly deceive her, trusted in her promise, believing that the Duke
would never break a pledge when his wife's honour was its warranty. And
accordingly she returned to the Duchess.

As soon as the Duke knew this, he failed not to repair to his wife's
apartment. There, as soon as he saw the maiden, he said to his wife,
"So such-a-one has returned," and turning to his gentlemen, he commanded
them to arrest her and lead her to prison.

At this the poor Duchess, who by the pledging of her word had drawn the
maiden from her refuge, was in such despair that, falling upon her knees
before her husband, she prayed that for love of herself and of his
house he would not do so foul a deed, seeing that it was in obedience to
himself that she had drawn the maiden from her place of safety.

But no prayer that she could utter availed to soften his hard heart, or
to overcome his stern resolve to be avenged. Without making any reply,
he withdrew as speedily as possible, and, foregoing all manner of trial,
and forgetting God and the honour of his house, he cruelly caused the
hapless maiden to be hanged.

I cannot undertake to recount to you the grief of the Duchess; it wa