of gentle breeding, for
all his business had been mean, grew yet more enamoured of his
pleasantness and full of compassion for his mishaps, comforted him on
very friendly wise, bidding him be of good hope, for that, an he were
a man of worth, God would yet replace him in that estate whence
fortune had cast him down, nay, in a yet higher. Moreover, he prayed
him, since he was bound for Tuscany, that it would please him bear him
company, inasmuch as himself was likewise on the way thitherward;
whereupon Alessandro returned him thanks for his encouragement and
declared himself ready to his every commandment.

The abbot, in whose breast new feelings had been aroused by the sight
of Alessandro, continuing his journey, it chanced that, after some
days, they came to a village not overwell furnished with hostelries,
and the abbot having a mind to pass the night there, Alessandro caused
him alight at the house of an innkeeper, who was his familiar
acquaintance, and let prepare him his sleeping-chamber in the least
incommodious place of the house; and being now, like an expert man as
he was, grown well nigh a master of the household to the abbot, he
lodged all his company, as best he might, about the village, some here
and some there. After the abbot had supped, the night being now well
advanced and every one gone to bed, Alessandro asked the host where he
himself could lie; whereto he answered, 'In truth, I know not; thou
seest that every place is full and I and my household must needs sleep
upon the benches. Algates, in the abbot's chamber there be certain
grain-sacks, whereto I can bring thee and spread thee thereon some
small matter of bed, and there, an it please thee, thou shalt lie this
night, as best thou mayst.' Quoth Alessandro, 'How shall I go into the
abbot's chamber, seeing thou knowest it is little and of its
straitness none of his monks might lie there? Had I bethought me of
this, ere the curtains were drawn, I would have let his monks lie on
the grain-sacks and have lodged myself where they sleep.' 'Nay,'
answered the host, 'the case standeth thus;[89] but, an thou wilt,
thou mayst lie whereas I tell thee with all the ease in the world. The
abbot is asleep and his curtains are drawn; I will quickly lay thee a
pallet-bed there, and do thou sleep on it.' Alessandro, seeing that
this might be done without giving the abbot any annoy, consented
thereto and settled himself on the grain-sacks as softliest he might.

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