unding to my heart that, were it not for my
doubt whether it be true or not, you would have already been at the
bottom of the water, and so have received in secret due punishment for
the wrong that in secret you intended against me."

The gentleman was in no wise dismayed by this discourse, but, ignorant
as he was of the truth, spoke forth with confidence and entreated the
Duke to name his accuser, since such a charge should be justified rather
with the lance than with the tongue.

"Your accuser," said the Duke, "carries no weapon but chastity. Know,
then, that none other but my wife has told me this, and she begged me to
take vengeance upon you."

The poor gentleman, though he then perceived the lady's great
wickedness, would not accuse her.

"My lord," he replied, "my lady may say what she will. You know her
better than I do, and you are aware if ever I saw her when out of your
sight, save only on one occasion, when she spoke but little with me.
You have, moreover, as sound a judgment as any Prince alive; wherefore I
pray you, my lord, judge whether you have ever seen aught in me to cause
any suspicion; and remember love is a fire that cannot be hidden so as
never to be known of by those who have had a like distemper. So I pray
you, my lord, to believe two things of me: first, that my loyalty to you
is such that were my lady, your wife, the fairest being in the world,
love would never avail to make me stain my honour and fidelity; and
secondly, that even were she not your wife, I should be least in love
with her of all the women I have ever known, since there are many others
to whom I would sooner plight my troth."

On hearing these words of truth, the Duke began to be softened, and
said--

"I assure you, on my part, that I did not believe it. Do, therefore,
according to your wont, in the assurance that, if I find the truth to be
on your side, I will love you yet better than before. But if it be not
so, your life is in my hands."

The gentleman thanked him and offered to submit to any pain or penalty
if he were found guilty.

The Duchess, on seeing the gentleman again in waiting as had formerly
been his wont, could not endure it in patience, but said to her
husband--

"'Twould be no more than you deserve, my lord, if you were poisoned,
since you put more trust in your deadly enemies than in your friends."

"I pray you, sweetheart, do not torment yourself in this matter," said
the Duke. "If I find that you