he delayed it until his return.
However, she found herself greatly perplexed with regard to the diamond,
for she had never been wont to adorn herself at the expense of any but
her husband. For this reason, being a woman of excellent understanding,
she determined to draw from the ring some profit to the Captain's
conscience. She therefore despatched one of her servants to the
Captain's wife with the following letter, which was written as though it
came from a nun of Tarascon:--

"MADAM,--Your husband passed this way but a short time before he
embarked, and after he had confessed himself and received his Creator
like a good Christian, he spoke to me of something which he had upon his
conscience, namely, his sorrow at not having loved you as he should
have done. And on departing, he prayed and besought me to send you this
letter, with the diamond which goes with it, and which he begs of you
to keep for his sake, assuring you that if God bring him back again in
health and strength, you shall be better treated than ever woman was
before. And this stone of steadfastness shall be the pledge thereof.

"I beg you to remember him in your prayers; in mine he will have a place
as long as I live."

This letter, being finished and signed with the name of a nun, was sent
by the lady to the Captain's wife. And as may be readily believed, when
the excellent old woman saw the letter and the ring, she wept for joy
and sorrow at being loved and esteemed by her good husband when she
could no longer see him. She kissed the ring a thousand times and more,
watering it with her tears, and blessing God for having restored her
husband's affection to her at the end of her days, when she had long
looked upon it as lost. Nor did she fail to thank the nun who had given
her so much happiness, but sent her the fairest reply that she could
devise. This the messenger brought back with all speed to his mistress,
who could not read it, nor listen to what her servant told her, without
much laughter. And so pleased was she at having got rid of the diamond
in so profitable a fashion as to bring about a reconciliation between
the husband and wife, that she was as happy as though she had gained a
kingdom.

A short time afterwards tidings came of the defeat and death of the poor
Captain, and of how he had been abandoned by those who ought to have
succoured him, and how his enterprise had been revealed by the Rhodians
who should have kept it secret, so that h