ll. When they had wept many tears, and devised an hour for their
next meeting, the knight departed in this fashion, and the lady shut
the door. But so long as she might see him, she followed his going
with her pretty eyes, since there was nothing better she could do.

When the Duke knew the postern was made fast, he hastened on his road
until he overtook the knight, who to himself was making his complaint
of the season, that all too short was his hour. The same thought
and the self same words were hers from whom he had parted, for the
briefness of the time had betrayed her delight, and she had no praises
for the dawn. The knight was deep in his thought and speech, when he
was overtaken by the Duke. The Duke embraced his friend, greeting him
very tenderly. Then he said to him,

"I pledge my faith that I will love you all the days of my life, never
on any day seeking to do you a mischief, for you have told me the very
truth, and have not lied to me by a single word."

"Sire," he made answer, "thanks and gramercy. But for the love of
God I require and pray of you that it be your pleasure to hide this
counsel; for I should lose my love, and the peace and comfort of my
life--yea, and should die without sin of my own, if I deemed that any
other in this realm than yourself knew aught of the business."

"Now speak of it never," replied the Duke. "Know that the counsel
shall be kept so hidden, that by me shall not a syllable be spoken."

On this covenant they came again whence they had set forth together.
That day, when men sat at meat, the Duke showed to his knight a
friendlier semblance and a fairer courtesy than ever he had done
before. The Duchess felt such wrath and despitefulness at this,
that--without any leasing--she rose from the table, and making
pretence of sudden sickness, went to lie upon her bed, where she found
little softness. When the Duke had eaten and washed and made merry, he
afterwards sought his wife's chamber, and causing her to be seated on
her bed, commanded that none should remain, save himself. So all men
went forth at his word, even as he had bidden. Thereupon the Duke
inquired of the lady how this evil had come to her, and of what she
was sick. She made answer,

"As God hears me, never till I ate at table did I deem that you had so
little sense or decency, as when I saw you making much of him, who, I
have told you already, strove to bring shame and disgrace on me. When
I watched you entreat him