ouse, and that if it pleased him
to repair thither and hunt three or four stags in the month of May, he
could have no finer sport. The Lord granted the gentleman's request, as
much for the affection he bore him as for the pleasure of the chase, and
repaired to his house, which was as handsome and as fairly ordered as
that of the richest gentleman in the land.

The Lord and his Lady were lodged on one side of the house, and she whom
the gentleman loved more than himself on the other. Her apartment was
so well arranged, tapestried above and matted below,(4) that it was
impossible to perceive a trap-door which was by the side of her bed, and
which opened into a room beneath, that was occupied by the gentleman's
mother.(5)

4 In most palaces and castles at this period the walls were
covered with tapestry and the floors with matting. This
remark is necessary to enable one to understand Bonnivet's
stratagem.--D.

5 Philippa de Montmorency, second wife of William Gouffier,
Lord of Boissy, who was Bonnivet's father (Anselme's
_Histoire Genealogique_, vol. vii. p. 880).--L.

She being an old lady, somewhat troubled by rheum, and fearful lest the
cough she had should disturb the Princess, made exchange of chambers
with her son. In the evening this old lady was wont to bring sweetmeats
to the Princess for her collation,(6) at which the gentleman was
present; and being greatly beloved by her brother and intimate with him,
he was also suffered to be present when she rose in the morning and when
she retired to bed, on which occasions he always found reasons for an
increase of his affection.

6 At that period the collation, as the supper was called,
was served at seven in the evening, shortly before the
curfew.--B. J.

Thus it came to pass that one evening he made the Princess stay up very
late, until at last, being desirous of sleep, she bade him leave her.
He then went to his own room, and there put on the handsomest and
best-scented shirt he had, and a nightcap so well adorned that nothing
was lacking in it. It seemed, to him, as he looked at himself in his
mirror, that no lady in the world could deny herself to one of his
comeliness and grace. He therefore promised himself a happy issue to
his enterprise, and so lay down on his bed, where in his desire and sure
hope of exchanging it for one more honourable and pleasant, he looked to
make no very long stay.

As soon as h