du Vergier, "my beauty has not yet made such
a conquest. Since my husband's death I have sought to love none but his
children, with whom I deem myself happy."

"Fair niece, fair niece," replied the Duchess, with hateful spleen,
"there is no love so secret that it is not known, and no little dog so
well broken in and trained that it cannot be heard to bark."

I leave you to imagine, ladies, what sorrow the poor Lady du Vergier
felt in her heart on finding a matter, so long concealed, thus made
known to her great dishonour. Her honour, which had been so carefully
guarded and was now wofully lost, tortured her, but still more so her
suspicion that her lover had failed in his promise to her. This she did
not think he could have done, unless it were that he loved some lady
fairer than herself, to whom his love had constrained him to make the
whole matter known. Yet so great was her discretion that she gave no
sign, but replied laughing to the Duchess that she did not understand
the language of animals. However, beneath this prudent concealment her
heart was filled with sadness, so that she rose up, and, passing out of
the chamber, entered a closet in sight of the Duke, who was walking up
and down.

Having thus reached a place where she believed herself to be alone, the
poor lady let herself fall helplessly upon a bed, whereat a damsel, who
had sat down beside it to sleep, rose up and drew back the curtains
to see who this might be. Finding that it was the Lady du Vergier,
who believed herself to be alone, she durst say nothing to her, but
listened, making as little noise as she was able. And in a stifled voice
the poor Lady du Vergier began to lament, saying--

"O unhappy one, what words have I heard? to what decree of death have I
hearkened? what final sentence have I received? O best beloved of men,
is this the reward of my chaste, honourable and virtuous love? O my
heart, hast thou made so parlous an election, and chosen for the
most loyal the most faithless, for the truest the most false, for the
discreetest the most slanderous? Alas! can it be that a thing hidden
from every human eye has been revealed to the Duchess? Alas, my little
dog, so well taught and the sole instrument of my love and virtuous
affection, it was not you who betrayed me, it was he whose voice is
louder than a dog's bark, and whose heart is more thankless than any
brute's. Tis he who, contrary to his oath and promise, has made known
the happy li