this, he went out of the lady, to the
no small delight and amazement of the whole city of Florence.

It was not long again before the accident that had happened to the
daughter of the king of Naples began to be buzzed about the country,
and all the monkish remedies having been found to fail, the king,
hearing of Matteo, sent for him from Florence. On arriving at Naples,
Matteo, after a few ceremonies, performed the cure. Before leaving the
princess, however, Roderigo said: "You see, Matteo, I have kept my
promise and made a rich man of you, and I owe you nothing now. So,
henceforward you will take care to keep out of my way, lest as I have
hitherto done you some good, just the contrary should happen to you in
future." Upon this Matteo thought it best to return to Florence, after
receiving fifty thousand ducats from his majesty, in order to enjoy
his riches in peace, and never once imagined that Roderigo would come
in his way again. But in this he was deceived; for he soon heard that
a daughter of Louis, king of France, was possessed by an evil spirit,
which disturbed our friend Matteo not a little, thinking of his
majesty's great authority and of what Roderigo had said. Hearing of
Matteo's great skill, and finding no other remedy, the king dispatched
a messenger for him, whom Matteo contrived to send back with a variety
of excuses. But this did not long avail him; the king applied to the
Florentine council, and our hero was compelled to attend. Arriving
with no very pleasant sensations at Paris, he was introduced into the
royal presence, when he assured his majesty that though it was true he
had acquired some fame in the course of his demoniac practice, he
could by no means always boast of success, and that some devils were
of such a desperate character as not to pay the least attention to
threats, enchantments, or even the exorcisms of religion itself. He
would, nevertheless, do his majesty's pleasure, entreating at the same
time to be held excused if it should happen to prove an obstinate
case. To this the king made answer, that be the case what it might, he
would certainly hang him if he did not succeed. It is impossible to
describe poor Matteo's terror and perplexity on hearing these words;
but at length mustering courage, he ordered the possessed princess to
be brought into his presence. Approaching as usual close to her ear,
he conjured Roderigo in the most humble terms, by all he had ever done
for him, not to aba