nothing else had led him to think that she
was in love with the gentleman. He therefore commanded her never to
speak to him again in public or in private, and assured her that the
first time she did so he would slay her without mercy or compassion. She
very readily promised to obey, and made up her mind not to be so foolish
another time.

But things are desired all the more for being forbidden, and it was not
long before the poor woman had forgotten her husband's threats and her
own promises. That very same evening she sent to the gentleman, begging
him to visit her at night. But the husband, who was so tormented
by jealousy that he could not sleep, and who had heard say that the
gentleman visited his wife at night, wrapped himself in a cloak, and
taking a valet with him, went to his wife's apartment and knocked at the
door. She, not in the least expecting him, got up alone, put on furred
slippers and a dressing-gown which were lying close at hand, and finding
that the three or four women whom she had with her were asleep, went
forth from her room and straight to the door at which she had heard the
knocking. On her asking, "Who is there?" she received in answer the name
of her lover; but to be still more certain, she opened a little wicket,
saying--

"If you be the man you say you are, show me your hand, and I shall
recognise it."

And when she touched her husband's hand she knew who it was, and quickly
shutting the wicket, cried out--

"Ha, sir! it is your hand."

The husband replied in great wrath--

"Yes; it is the hand that will keep faith with you. Do not fail,
therefore, to come when I send for you."

With these words he went away to his own apartment, whilst she, more
dead than alive, went back into her room, and cried out aloud to her
servant-women, "Get up, my friends; you have slept only too well for me,
for thinking to trick you, I have myself been tricked."

With these words she swooned away in the middle of the room. The
women rose at her cry, and were so astonished at seeing their mistress
stretched upon the floor, as well as at hearing the words, she had
uttered, that they were at their wits' end, and sought in haste for
remedies to restore her. When she was able to speak, she said to them--

"You see before you, my friends, the most unhappy creature in the
world."

And thereupon she went on to tell them the whole adventure, and begged
of them to help her, for she counted her life as good as