that night,
availing herself as a pretext of the illness of one of her brothers for
whose requirements it was necessary to send into the town at all hours.
He might enter the courtyard, but he was to be careful not to go up by
the principal staircase. Instead of this he was to take a small flight
on his right hand, and enter the first gallery he came to, into which
the rooms of the lady's father-in-law and brothers-in-law opened; and
he was to choose the third door from the head of the stairs, and if on
trying it gently he found that it was locked, he was to go away again,
for in that case he might be sure that her husband had returned, though
not expected back for two days. If, however, he found that the door was
open, he was to enter softly, and boldly bolt it behind him, for in that
case there would be none but herself in the room. And above all, he was
to get himself felt shoes, in order that he might make no noise, and he
was to be careful not to come earlier than two hours after midnight,
for her brothers-in-law, who were fond of play, never went to bed until
after one of the clock.

"Go, my friend," replied Bonnivet, "and may God be with you and preserve
you from mischief. If my company can be of any service to you, I am
wholly at your disposal."

The Italian gentleman thanked him warmly, but said that in an affair of
this nature he could not be too much alone; and thereupon he went away
to set about his preparations.

Bonnivet, on his part, did not go to sleep, for he saw that the time had
come for revenging himself upon his cruel love. Going home betimes, he
had his beard trimmed to the same length and breadth as the Italian's,
and also had his hair cut, so that, on touching him, no difference
between himself and his rival might be perceived. Nor did he forget the
felt shoes, nor garments such as the Italian was wont to wear. Being
greatly liked by the lady's father-in-law, he was not afraid to go to
the house at an early hour, for he made up his mind that if he were
perceived, he would go straight to the chamber of the old gentleman,
with whom he had some business on hand.

About midnight he entered the lady's house, and although there were a
good many persons going to and fro, he passed them unnoticed and thus
reached the gallery. Trying the first two doors, he found them shut; the
third, however, was not, and he softly pushed it open. And having thus
entered the lady's room, he immediately bolted the doo