for the gentleman told his mistress
that he must needs return sooner than was his wont, since the Duke was
to go hunting at four o'clock, and he durst not fail to attend him.

The lady, who set honour before delight, would not keep him from
fulfilling his duty; for what she prized most in their honourable
affection was that it was kept secret from all.

So the gentleman departed an hour after midnight, and his lady in cloak
and kerchief went with him, yet not so far as she wished, for, fearing
lest she should meet the Duke, he obliged her to return. Then he
mounted with the Duke and returned to the castle of Argilly, his master
unceasingly swearing to him on the way that he would die rather than
ever reveal his secret. Moreover, he then put so much trust in the
gentleman, and had so much love for him, that no one in his Court stood
higher in his favour. The Duchess grew furious at this, but the Duke
forbade her ever to speak to him about the gentleman again, saying that
he now knew the truth about him and was well pleased, since the lady
in question was more worthy of love than herself. These words deeply
pierced the heart of the Duchess, and she fell into a sickness that was
worse than fever.

The Duke went to see her in order to comfort her, but there was no
means of doing this except by telling her the name of this beautiful and
dearly loved lady. She pressed him urgently to do this, until at last
the Duke went out of the room, saying--

"If you speak to me again after this fashion, we shall part one from the
other."

These words increased the sickness of the Duchess, and she pretended
that she felt her infant stirring, at which the Duke was so rejoiced
that he came and lay beside her. But, just when she saw him most loving
towards her, she turned away, and said--

"I pray you, my lord, since you have no love for either wife or child,
leave us to die together."

With these words she gave vent to many tears and lamentations, and the
Duke was in great fear lest she should lose her child. He therefore took
her in his arms and begged her to tell him what she would have, since he
possessed nothing that was not also hers.

"Ah, my lord," she replied, weeping, "what hope can I have that you
would do a hard thing for me, when you will not do the easiest and most
reasonable in the world, which is to name to me the mistress of the
wickedest servant you ever had? I thought that you and I had but one
heart, one soul,