f the daughter, who was pleased by it, and so never complained."

"It was all the result," said Parlamente, "of the great kindliness and
simplicity of the mercer's wife, who unwittingly led the maiden to the
slaughter."

"Nay, to the wedding," said Simontault, "where such simplicity was no
less profitable to the girl than it once was hurtful to one who suffered
herself to be readily duped by her husband."

"Since you know such a story," said Nomerfide, "I give you my vote that
you may tell it to us."

"I will indeed do so," said Simontault, "but you must promise not to
weep. Those who declare, ladies, that your craftiness surpasses that of
men, would find it hard to bring forward such an instance as I will now
relate, wherein I propose to show you not only the great craftiness of a
husband, but the exceeding simplicity and goodness of his wife."

[Illustration: 176.jpg Tailpiece]

[Illustration: 177a.jpg The Man of Tours and his Serving-maid in the Snow]

[The Man of Tours and his Serving-maid in the Snow]

[Illustration: 177.jpg Page Image]

_TALE XLV_.

_At his wife's request, an upholsterer of Tours gave the
Innocents to his serving-maid, with whom he was in love; but
he did so after such a fashion as to let her have what
belonged by right only to his wife, who, for her part, was
such a simpleton that she could never believe her husband
had so wronged her, albeit she had abundant warning thereof
from a neighbour_.

In the city of Tours dwelt a man of shrewd and sound understanding, who
was upholsterer to the late Duke of Orleans, (1) son of King Francis the
First; and although this upholsterer had, through sickness, become deaf,
he had nevertheless lost nothing of his wit, which, in regard both to
his trade and to other matters, was as shrewd as any man's. And how he
was able to avail himself of it you shall hear.

1 Charles of France, Duke of Orleans, Bourbonnais,
Angoumois and Chatelherault, Count of Clermont, La Marche,
and Civray, Governor and Lieutenant-General of Champagne and
Brie. He has been referred to in the Memoir of Queen
Margaret, _ante_, vol. i. pp. xxxvi., xlvii.-viii. Born at
St. Germain in January 1521, the Duke of Orleans took part
in several military expeditions, and gave proof of much
ability as a commander. He died, according to some accounts,
of a pleurisy, and, according to others, of the pl