ission intrusted to her husband,
so that she might see the son of the Lieutenant, who was named Du
Mesnil, at her ease.

4 This was of course Margaret herself.--Ed

5 Gilles du Mesnil, Lieutenant-General of the presidial
bailiwick and Senechaussee of Alencon.--B. J.

This mode of life lasted a long time, during which she had the Bishop
for her profit and the said Du Mesnil for her pleasure. To the latter
she swore that she showed a fair countenance to the Bishop only that
their own love might the more freely continue; that the Bishop, in
spite of appearances, had obtained only words, from her; and that he,
Du Mesnil, might rest assured that no man, save himself, should ever
receive aught else.

One day, when her husband was setting forth to visit the Bishop, she
asked leave of him to go into the country, saying that the air of the
town was injurious to her; and, when she had arrived at her farm, she
forthwith wrote to Du Mesnil to come and see her, without fail, at
about ten o'clock in the evening. This the young man did; but as he was
entering at the gate he met the maid who was wont to let him in, and who
said to him, "Go elsewhere, friend, for your place is taken."

Supposing that the husband had arrived, he asked her how matters stood.
The woman, seeing that he was so handsome, youthful, and well-bred, and
was withal so loving and yet so little loved, took pity upon him and
told him of his mistress's wantonness, thinking that on hearing this he
would be cured of loving her so much. She related to him that the Bishop
of Sees had but just arrived, and was now in bed with the lady, a thing
which the latter had not expected, for he was not to have come until
the morrow. However, he had detained her husband at his house, and had
stolen away at night to come secretly and see her. If ever man was in
despair it was Du Mesnil, who nevertheless was quite unable to believe
the story. He hid himself, however, in a house near by, and watched
until three hours after midnight, when he saw the Bishop come forth
disguised, yet not so completely but that he could recognise him more
readily than he desired.

Du Mesnil in his despair returned to Alencon, whither, likewise, his
wicked mistress soon came, and went to speak to him, thinking to deceive
him according to her wont. But he told her that, having touched sacred
things, she was too holy to speak to a sinner like himself, albeit
his repentance was so great th