d to be the
most virtuous in the world, I do not expect to find it in any man. This
evil fortune will henceforth free me of all the passion that love can
give."

With these words she bade him farewell.

Her mother, who had been watching her face, was unable to form any
opinion; though from that time forth she clearly saw that her daughter
had lost all affection for Amadour. She imagined her so devoid of reason
as to hate everything that she herself loved; and from that hour she
warred with her in a strange way, spending seven years without speaking
to her except in anger, all which she did at Amadour's request.

Meanwhile, on account of her mother's harsh treatment, Florida's former
dread of being with her husband was changed into a desire of never
leaving him. Seeing, however, that all her efforts were useless, she
resolved to deceive Amadour, and laying aside her coldness for a day
or two, she advised him to pay court to a lady who, she said, had been
speaking of their love.

This lady lived with the Queen of Spain, and was called Loretta. Amadour
believed the story, and, thinking that he might in this way regain
Florida's good graces, he made love to Loretta, who was the wife of a
captain, one of the viceroys of the King of Spain. She, in her pleasure
at having gained such a lover, showed so much elation that the affair
was rumoured abroad. Even the Countess of Aranda, who was at Court, had
knowledge of it, and thenceforward treated Florida less harshly than
before.

One day Florida heard that the captain, Loretta's husband, had grown
jealous, and was resolved to kill Amadour in one way or another as best
he might. In spite of her altered treatment of Amadour, Florida did not
desire that evil should befall him, and so she immediately informed
him of what she had heard. He was quite ready to hark back again to his
first love, and thereupon told her that, if she would grant him three
hours of her conversation every day, he would never again speak to
Loretta. But this she would not grant. "Then," said Amadour, "if you
will not give me life, why prevent me from dying, unless indeed you hope
to make me suffer more pain during life than any death could cause? But
though death shun me, I will seek it until I find it; then only shall I
have rest."

While they were on this footing, news came that the King of Granada (22)
was entering upon a great war against the King of Spain. The latter,
therefore, sent the Prince, h