at he hoped his sin would very soon be
forgiven him. When she learnt that her deceit was found out, and that
excuses, oaths, and promises never to act in a like way again were of
no avail, she complained of it to her Bishop. Then, having weighed the
matter with him, she went to her husband and told him that she could no
longer dwell in the town of Alencon, for the Lieutenant's son, whom he
had so greatly esteemed among his friends, pursued her unceasingly
to rob her of her honour. She therefore begged of him to abide at
Argentan,(6) in order that all suspicion might be removed.

6 Argentan, on the Orne, twenty-six miles from Alencon, had
been a distinct viscounty, but at this period it belonged to
the duchy of Alencon.--Ed.

The husband, who suffered himself to be ruled by his wife, consented;
but they had not been long at Argentan when this bad woman sent a
message to Du Mesnil, saying that he was the wickedest man in the world,
for she knew full well that he had spoken evilly (sic.) of her and
of the Bishop of Sees; however, she would strive her best to make him
repent of it.

The young man, who had never spoken of the matter except to herself,
and who feared to fall into the bad graces of the Bishop, repaired to
Argentan with two of his servants, and finding his mistress at vespers
in the church of the Jacobins,(7) he went and knelt beside her, and
said--

"I am come hither, madam, to swear to you before God that I have never
spoken of your honour to any person but yourself. You treated me so ill
that I did not make you half the reproaches you deserved; but if there
be man or woman ready to say that I have ever spoken of the matter to
them, I am here to give them the lie in your presence."

7 The name of Jacobins was given to the monks of the
Dominican Order, some of whom had a monastery in the suburbs
of Argentan.--Ed.

Seeing that there were many people in the church, and that he was
accompanied by two stout serving-men, she forced herself to speak as
graciously as she could. She told him that she had no doubt he spoke the
truth, and that she deemed him too honourable a man to make evil report
of any one in the world; least of all of herself, who bore him so much
friendship; but since her husband had heard the matter spoken of, she
begged him to say in his presence that he had not so spoken and did not
so believe.

To this he willingly agreed, and, wishing to attend her to he