her
himself nor another, which he could not believe, however, seeing how
ill-favoured was her husband, and how great her own beauty. Convinced
that she was practising dissimulation, he resolved, on his own side, to
have recourse to deception, and accordingly he ceased to urge his suit,
and inquired so closely concerning her manner of life that he discovered
she was in love with a most discreet and honourable Italian gentleman.

Little by little the Lord of Bonnivet insinuated himself into the
friendship of this gentleman, and did so with so much discretion and
skill, that the other remained ignorant of his motive, and became so
much attached to him that, after the lady of his heart, there was no one
in the world whom he loved more. In order that he might pluck his secret
from his breast, the Lord of Bonnivet pretended to tell him his own,
declaring that he loved a certain lady to whom he had in truth never
given a thought, and begging that he would keep the matter secret, and
that they might have but one heart and one mind together. Wishing to
show in return a like affection, the poor Italian gentleman thereupon
proceeded to disclose at length the love that he bore the lady on whom
Bonnivet wished to be revenged; and after this they would meet somewhere
once every day in order to recount the favours that had befallen them
during the past four and twenty hours; with this difference, however,
that one lied, and the other spoke the truth. And the Italian confessed
that he had loved this lady for three years, but had never obtained
anything of her save fair words and the assurance of her love.

Bonnivet then gave him all the advice that he could to enable him to
attain his end, and to such good purpose that in a few days the lady
consented to grant all that was sought of her. It only remained to
devise a plan for their meeting, and through the counsels of Bonnivet
this was soon accomplished. And so one day before supper the Italian
said to him--

"I am more beholden to you, sir, than to any other man living, for,
thanks to your good advice, I expect to obtain to-night that which I
have coveted so many years."

"I pray you, my friend," thereupon said Bonnivet, "tell me the manner of
your undertaking, so that if there be any risk in it, or craft required,
I may serve you in all friendship."

The Italian gentleman then began to tell him that the lady had devised
a means of having the principal door of the house left open