lied--

"Madam, my heart is so tender, that, were I once refused, I should never
again have joy in this world; and I know myself to be of such little
worth that no lady at this Court would deign to accept my suit."

The Duchess blushed, and, imagining that at last he was indeed won,
vowed to him that she knew the most beautiful lady in the company
would, if he were willing, joyfully receive him, and afford him perfect
happiness.

"Alas! madam," he replied, "I do not think that there is any woman in
this company so unfortunate and so blind as to find me worthy of her
love."

The Duchess, finding that he would not understand her, drew the veil
of her passion somewhat aside, and, by reason of the fears which the
gentleman's virtue caused her, spoke to him in the form of a question.

"If fortune," she said, "had so far favoured you that it was myself who
bore you this goodwill, what would you say?"

The gentleman, who thought that he was dreaming when he heard her speak
in this wise, dropped on his knee, and replied--

"Madam, when God by His favour enables me to have both the favour of
the Duke, my master, and your own, I shall deem myself the happiest man
alive; for 'tis the reward I crave for the loyal service of one who,
more than any other, is bound to give his life in the service of you
both. And I am sure, madam, that the love you bear my Lord aforesaid is
attended with such chastity and nobleness that, apart from myself,
who am but a worm of the earth, not even the greatest Prince and most
perfect man to be found could break the union that exists between you.
For my own part, my Lord has brought me up from childhood, and made me
what I am, and to save my life I could not entertain towards any wife,
daughter, sister or mother of his any thought contrary to what is due
from a loyal and faithful servant."

The Duchess would not allow him to continue, but finding that she was
in danger of obtaining a dishonourable refusal, she suddenly interrupted
him, and said--

"Wicked and boastful fool, who seeks any such thing from you? Do you
think that your good looks win you the love of the very flies in the
air? Nay, if you were presumptuous enough to address yourself to me, I
would show you that I love, and seek to love, none but my husband. What
I have said to you was spoken only for my amusement, to try you and
laugh at you, as I do at all foolish lovers."

"Madam," said the gentleman, "I believed, and do still b