ng unceasingly of her and of his loss, and threatening her with
nothing short of death if he should find her. Of this she had as little
fear in her mind as she had of cold in her body, although the place and
season might well have caused her to repent of her evil journey. And any
one who did not know how the fire of hell inflames those that are filled
with it, must needs wonder how it was that this unhappy woman could so
leave a warm bed and continue for a whole day in the piercing cold.

Yet she neither lost courage nor gave up the journey, but, as soon as
night was come, went forward once more. Just as the gate at Autun was
being closed, this pilgrim arrived thither and repaired straight to the
shrine of her saint, who was in great wonder at her coming, and could
scarcely believe that it was indeed she. But when he had carefully
looked at her and examined her at all points, he found that, unlike
a spirit, she was really possessed of bone and flesh, and so became
convinced that she was no ghost.

And thenceforward they agreed so well together that she dwelt with the
Canon for fourteen or fifteen years.

Although for a time she lived in concealment, in the end she lost all
fear, and (what is worse) became so exceedingly proud of her lover that
at church she would set herself before most of the honourable women of
the town, wives of officials and others. Moreover, she had children
by the Canon, and among others a daughter who was married to a rich
merchant, and who had so magnificent a wedding that all the women of
the town murmured exceedingly, yet were powerless to set the affair to
rights.

Now it happened that at this time Queen Claude, wife of King Francis,
passed through the town of Autun, having with her my Lady the Regent,
mother of the King aforesaid, and the Duchess of Alencon, her daughter.
(1) One of the Queen's waiting-women, named Perrette, came to the
Duchess and said--

"Madam, I pray you listen to me, and you will do a better deed than if
you went to hear the whole day's service at the church."

1 This would have occurred in the late autumn of 1515, when
the Court journeyed southward to meet Francis I. on his
return from the Marignano campaign.--Ed.

The Duchess gave ready heed, knowing that nought but good counsel could
come from her. Then Perrette forthwith told her how she had taken a
young girl to help her in washing the Queen's linen, and how, on asking
the news of the town,