ot deserve an honourable
and gracious reception, and he often made remonstrances about it to the
lady. She, however, being one of Eve's daughters, (4) excused herself
by saying that she spoke with every one in general, and that their own
affection was the better concealed, since she never spoke more with one
than with another.

3 "Des Cheriots" (occasionally Des Cheriotz in the MS.) may
be a play upon the name of D'Escars, sometimes written Des
Cars. According to La Curne de Ste. Palaye _car_ as well as
_char_ signified chariot. The D'Escars dukedom is modern,
dating from 1815, and in the time of Francis I. the family
was of small estate. Some members of it may well have filled
inferior offices about the court, as in 1536 a Demoiselle
Suzanne d'Escars married Geoffrey de Pompadour, who was both
a prothonotary and cupbearer to Francis I., and lived to
become Governor of the Limousin under Charles IX.--M. and
Ed.

4 We take this expression from MS. 1520. Ours says, "a
daughter of the Duke," which is evidently an error.--L.

Albeit, after some time, this Lord des Cheriots so pressed her that,
more through his importunity than through love, she promised to marry
him, begging him, however, not to urge her to reveal the marriage until
her daughters were wedded. After this the gentleman was wont to go with
untroubled conscience to her chamber at whatsoever hour he chose, and
none but a waiting-woman and a serving-man had knowledge of the matter.

When the Prince perceived that the gentleman was growing more and more
familiar in the house of her whom he so dearly loved, he took it in
ill-part, and could not refrain from saying to the lady--

"I have always prized your honour like that of my own sister, and you
are aware of the honourable manner in which I have addressed you, and
the happiness that I have in loving a lady as discreet and virtuous as
yourself; but did I think that another who deserves it not could win by
importunity that which I am not willing to crave, contrary to your
own desire, this would be unendurable to me, and in the like degree
dishonouring to you. I tell you this because you are beautiful and
young, and although hitherto of good repute, are now beginning to gain
a very evil fame. Even though he be not your equal in birth or fortune,
and have less influence, knowledge and address, yet it were better to
have married him than to give