vour of Longarine (La Dame de
Lonray), Margaret's bosom friend, whose silence during the
after-converse is significant.--Ed.

"I give it willingly," she said, "to Simontault, for after two such
mournful tales we must have one that will not make us weep."

"I thank you," said Simontault. "In giving me your vote you have all but
told me that I am a jester. It is a name that is extremely distasteful
to me, and in revenge I will show you that there are women who with
certain persons, or for a certain time, make a great pretence of being
chaste, but the end shows them in their real colours, as you will see by
this true story."

[Illustration: 140.jpg Tailpiece]

[Illustration: 141a.jpg Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan]

[Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan]

[Illustration: 141.jpg Page Image]

_TALE XIV_.

_The Lord of Bonnivet, desiring to revenge himself upon a
Milanese lady for her cruelty, made the acquaintance of an
Italian gentleman whom she loved, but to whom she had never
granted anything save fair words and assurances of
affection. To accomplish his purpose he gave this gentleman
such good advice that the lady granted him what he had so
long sought, and this the gentleman made known to Bonnivet,
who, having cut both hair and beard, and dressed himself in
clothes like those of the other, went at midnight and put
his vengeance into execution. Then the lady, having learnt
from him the plan that he had devised to win her, promised
to desist from loving those of her own nation, and to hold
fast to him_.

At the time when the Grand-Master of Chaumont was Governor of the Duchy
of Milan, (1) there lived there a gentleman called the Lord of Bonnivet,
who by reason of his merits was afterwards made Admiral of France. Being
greatly liked by the Grand-Master and every one else on account of the
qualities he possessed, he was a welcome guest at the banquets where
the ladies of Milan assembled, and was regarded by them with more favour
than ever fell to a Frenchman's lot, either before or since; and this
as much on account of his handsome countenance, grace of manner, and
pleasant converse, as by reason of the renown which he had gained among
all as being one of the most skilful and valorous soldiers of his time.
(2)

1 M. de Lincy is of opinion that the incidents recorded in
this story took place between 1501 and 1503; but accordi