you will accept me for your servant and make known to me
your little affairs, I will not fail to assist you in your need so far
as a hundred thousand crowns may go."

3 Evidently the castle of Pampeluna, where Gabriel d'Albret
resided with his brother the King.--Ed.

The Lord of Avannes was in great joy at this offer, for he had just such
a father as the other had described; accordingly he thanked him, and
called him his adopted father.

From that hour the rich man evinced so much love towards the Lord of
Avannes, that morning and evening he failed not to inquire whether he
had need of anything, nor did he conceal this devotion from his wife,
who loved him for it twice as much as before. Thenceforward the Lord of
Avannes had no lack of anything that he desired. He often visited the
rich man, and ate and drank with him; and when he found the husband
abroad, the wife gave him all that he required, and further spoke to
him so sagely, exhorting him to live discreetly and virtuously, that he
reverenced and loved her above all other women.

Having God and honour before her eyes, she remained content with thus
seeing him and speaking to him, for these are sufficient for virtuous
and honourable love; and she never gave any token whereby he might have
imagined that she felt aught but a sisterly and Christian affection
towards him.

While this secret love continued, the Lord of Avannes, who, by the
assistance that I have spoken of, was always well and splendidly
apparelled, came to the age of seventeen years, and began to frequent
the company of ladies more than had been his wont. And although he would
fain have loved this virtuous lady rather than any other, yet his fear
of losing her friendship should she hear any such discourse from him,
led him to remain silent and to divert himself elsewhere.

He therefore addressed himself to a gentlewoman of the neighbourhood of
Pampeluna, who had a house in the town, and was married to a young man
whose chief delight was in horses, hawks and hounds. For her sake, he
began to set on foot a thousand diversions, such as tourneys, races,
wrestlings, masquerades, banquets, and other pastimes, at all of which
this young lady was present. But as her husband was very humorsome, and
her parents, knowing her to be both fair and frolicsome, were jealous of
her honour, they kept such strict watch over her that my Lord of Avannes
could obtain nothing from her save a word or two at the