ed none too late to be recognised by her
Canon, who kept her shut up in hiding for more than a year, and this in
spite of the monitions and excommunications that were procured against
him by her husband.

The latter, finding that he had no other remedy, at last complained to
the Bishop, who had an Archdeacon, as worthy a man as any at that time
in France. This Archdeacon himself searched with great diligence through
all the Canon's houses, until he discovered the one in which the woman
was being kept in concealment, whereupon he cast her into prison, and
laid heavy penance upon the Canon.

The husband, knowing that his wife had been recovered by the counsels of
the Archdeacon and divers other excellent persons, was content to take
her back on her swearing to him that she would live for the future as
beseemed a virtuous woman.

This the worthy man in his deep love for her readily believed, and,
bringing her back to his house, he treated her as honourably as before,
except that he gave her two old serving-women who never left her, one or
other of them being at all times with her.

But, however kindly her husband might use her, the wicked love she bore
towards the Canon caused her to regard all rest as torment. And although
she was a very beautiful woman and her husband a man of excellent
constitution, vigorous and strong, she never had any children by him,
her heart being always seven leagues away from her body; this, however,
she concealed so well that it seemed to her husband that, like himself,
she had wholly forgotten the past.

But in her great wickedness she was not so minded; for, just when she
saw her husband most in love with her and having least suspicion, she
pretended to fall ill, and continued in this pretence until her husband
was in wondrous distress, and anxious to spare nought that might relieve
her.

However, she played her part so exceedingly well that he, and all in the
house, thought that she was sick unto death, and was growing by degrees
weaker and weaker. Finding that her husband was no less grieved than he
should have been glad, she begged of him that he would authorise her to
make her will, and this with tears he did.

Having power of bequest, although she had no children, she gave to her
husband what she could, craving at the same time his forgiveness for
her wrong-doing towards him. Then she sent for the priest, confessed
herself, and received the Holy Sacrament of the Altar with such