leasure,(1) should play such
a game. I believe there is none who would watch them more closely or
shield them more readily than you."

1 M. Frank, adopting the generally received opinion that
Hircan is King Henry of Navarre, believes this to be an
allusion to one of the King's sisters--Ann, who married the
Count of Estrac, or Isabel, who married M. de Rohan--but it
is more likely that Henry's daughter, Jane d'Albret, is the
person referred to.--Ed.

"By my conscience," said Hircan, "if she whom you mention had done such
a thing, and I knew nothing about it, I should think none the less of
her. For all I know, some one may have played as good a trick on me;
however, knowing nothing, I am unconcerned."

At this Parlamente could not refrain from saying--

"A wicked man cannot but be suspicious; happy are those who give no
occasion for suspicion."

"I have never seen a great fire from which there came no smoke," said
Longarine, "but I have often seen smoke where there was no fire. The
wicked are as suspicious when there is no mischief as when there is."

"Truly, Longarine," Hircan forthwith rejoined, "you have spoken so well
in support of the honour of ladies wrongfully suspected, that I give you
my vote to tell the eighth tale. I hope, however, that you will not make
us weep, as Madame Oisille did, by too much praise of virtuous women."

At this Longarine laughed heartily, and thus began:--"You want me to
make you laugh, as is my wont, but it shall not be at women's expense.
I will show you, however, how easy it is to deceive them when they are
inclined to be jealous and esteem themselves clever enough to deceive
their husbands."

[Illustration: 113.jpg Tailpiece]

APPENDIX.

A. (Prologue, Page 31.)

The dedication with which Anthony Le Macon prefaces his translation of
Boccaccio contains several curious passages. In it Margaret is styled
"the most high and most illustrious Princess Margaret of France, only
sister of the King, Queen of Navarre, Duchess of Alencon and of Berry;"
while the author describes himself as "Master Anthoine Le Macon,
Councillor of the King, Receiver General of his finances in Burgundy,
and very humble secretary to this Queen." He then proceeds to say:--

"You remember, my lady, the time when you made a stay of four or five
months in Paris, during which you commanded me, seeing that I had
freshly arrived from Florence, where I had sojourned