the
Proctor's life might be spared, and the sentence of death be commuted to
some heavy punishment. This request was granted her, and St. Aignan
and Gallery were sent to the galleys of St. Blancart at Marseilles,(17)
where they ended their days in close captivity, and had leisure to
ponder on the grievousness of their crimes. The wicked wife, in the
absence of her husband, continued in her sinful ways even more than
before, and at last died in wretchedness.

17 This passage is explained by Henri Bouche, who states in
his _Histoire Chronologique de Provence_ (vol. ii. p. 554),
that after Francis I.'s voyage in captivity to Spain it was
judged expedient that France should have several galleys in
the Mediterranean, and that "orders were accordingly given
for thirteen to be built at Marseilles--four for the Baron
de Saint-Blancart, as many for Andrew Doria, &c." The Baron
de Saint-Blancart here referred to was Bernard d'Ormezan,
Admiral of the seas of the Levant, Conservator of the ports
and tower of Aigues-Mortes, and General of the King's
galleys. In 1523 he defeated the naval forces of the Emperor
Charles V., and in 1525 conducted Margaret to Spain.--L.
(See Memoir of Margaret, p. xli.)

"I pray you, ladies, consider what evil is caused by a wicked woman,
and how many evils sprang from the sins of the one I have spoken of.
You will find that ever since Eve caused Adam to sin, all women have set
themselves to bring about the torment, slaughter and damnation of men.
For myself, I have had such experience of their cruelty that I expect to
die and be damned simply by reason of the despair into which one of them
has cast me. And yet so great a fool am I, that I cannot but confess
that hell coming from her hand is more pleasing than Paradise would be
from the hand of another."

Parlamente, pretending she did not understand that it was touching
herself he spoke in this fashion, said to him--

"Since hell is as pleasant as you say, you ought not to fear the devil
who has placed you in it."

"If my devil were to become as black as he has been cruel to me,"
answered Simontault angrily, "he would cause the present company as much
fright as I find pleasure in looking upon them; but the fires of
love make me forget those of this hell. However, to speak no further
concerning this matter, I give my vote to Madame Oisille to tell the
second story. I feel sure she