er to
blush as deeply as though his words had been directed to her. Yet was he
none the less understood by her whom he desired should understand him.
The Lady Oisille then assured him that he might freely speak the truth
at the cost of any person concerned; whereupon he thus began:--

[Illustration: 105a. The Lady returning to her Lover, the Canon of Autun]

[The Lady returning to her Lover, the Canon of Autun]

[Illustration: 105.jpg Page Image]

_TALE LXI_.

_A husband is reconciled with his wife after she had lived
during fourteen or fifteen years with a Canon of Autun_.

Near the town of Autun there lived a very beautiful woman, who was
tall, fair, and as handsome of feature as any I have ever seen. She was
married to an honest man who seemed somewhat younger than herself, and
who loved and treated her well enough to give her reason for content.

A little while after they were married, he took her to the town of
Autun, where he had business; and while he was engaged with the law, his
wife would go to the church to pray God for him.

She repaired so often to this holy place that a very rich Canon fell in
love with her, and wooed her so urgently that the unhappy creature gave
herself up to him. Her husband had no suspicion of this, however, for he
gave more thought to the guarding of his property than of his wife.

When the time for departure was come, and they must needs return to
their home, which was full seven leagues from the town, great was the
woman's sorrow. But the Canon promised that he would often go and see
her, and this he did, pretending to be making some journey which led
him past the house. The gentleman, however, was not so foolish as not to
perceive the truth, and he so skilfully contrived matters, that when the
Canon came thither he no longer met the wife, who was too well hidden
by her husband to allow of his having any speech with her. The wife,
knowing her husband's jealousy, gave no sign that this was displeasing
to her; nevertheless, she resolved to set things to rights, for she felt
herself as it were in hell, deprived as she was of the sight of her God.

One day, when her husband was abroad, she found a means to occupy her
servants, both men and women, after such a fashion that she was left
alone in the house. Immediately, she took what was needful, and, with no
company save that of the wanton love she carried with her, she repaired
on foot to Autun. Here she arriv