ches avail him
aught.

When day was come, the lady sent for her confessor, making as though she
had some great secret to tell him, whereupon he came with all speed, and
then, reproaching him for the deceit that he had practised on her, she
had him seized like the other. Afterwards she sent for the officers of
justice, in whose hands she placed them both. It is to be supposed that
if the judges were honest men they did not suffer the offence to go
unpunished. (2)

2 There is some little resemblance between this tale and
the 36th of Morlini's _Novello, De monacho qui duxit
uxorem_.--M.

"From this story, ladies, you will see that those who have taken vows of
poverty are not free from the temptation of covetousness, which is the
cause of so many ills."

"Nay, of so many blessings," said Saffredent, "for with the five hundred
ducats that the old woman would have stored up there was made much good
cheer, while the poor maiden, who had been longing for a husband, was
thus enabled to have two, and to speak with more knowledge as to the
truth of all hierarchies."

"You always hold the falsest opinions," said Oisille, "that ever I knew.
You think that all women are of your own temper."

"Not so, madam, with your good leave," said Saffredent. "I would give
much that they were as easily satisfied as we are."

"That is a wicked speech," said Oisille, "and there is not one present
but knows the contrary, and that what you say is untrue. The story that
has just been told proves the ignorance of poor women and the wickedness
of those whom we regard as better than the rest of your sex; for neither
mother nor daughter would do aught according to their own fancy, but
subjected desire to good advice."

"Some women are so difficult," said Longarine, "that they think they
ought to have angels instead of men."

"And for that reason," said Simontault, "they often meet with devils,
more especially those who, instead of trusting to God's grace, think
by their own good sense, or that of others, that they may in this world
find some happiness, though this is granted by none save God, from whom
alone it can come."

"How now, Simontault!" said Oisille. "I did not think that you knew so
much good."

"Madam," said Simontault, "'tis a pity that I have not been proved, for
I see that through lack of knowledge you have already judged ill of me.
Yet I may well practise a Grey Friar's trade, since a Grey Friar has
meddled w