And the Soudan made answer, “Wife, by our holy law if they were a hundred I would give them all to you gladly.”

The lady thanked him tenderly, and bestowed the captive swiftly in her chamber.  The Saracens went again to the prison and fetched out another, but the lady left him to his fate, when she looked upon his face.  So he won a martyr’s crown, and our Lord Jesus Christ received his soul.  As for the dame, she hid herself from the sight, for it gave her little joy, this slaying of the Christian by the Paynims.

The lady came to her chamber, and at her coming the captives would have got them to their feet, but she made signs that they should remain seated.  Drawing close she made gestures of friendship.  The Count, who was very shrewd, asked at this, “Lady, when will they slay us?”

She answered that their time had not yet come.

“Lady,” said he, “the sorer grief is ours, for we are so anhungered, that for a little our souls would leave our bodies.”

The lady went out, and bade meat to be made ready.  This she carried in, giving to each a little, and to each a little drink.  When they had eaten, they had yet greater hunger than before.  In this manner she fed them, little by little, ten times a day, for she deemed that should they eat to their desire, they would die of repletion.  For this reason she caused them to break their fast temperately.  Thus the good lady dealt with them for the first seven days, and at nights, by her grace, they lay softly at their ease.  She did away with their rags, and clad them in seemly apparel.  When the week was done she set before them meat and drink to their heart’s desire, so that their strength returned to them again.  They had chess and draughts, and played these games to their great content.  The Soudan was often with them.  He watched the play, and took pleasure in their gladness.  But the lady refrained, so that none might conceive, either by speech or fashion, that he had known her before.

Now a short while after this matter of the captives, the story tells that the Soudan had business enough of his own, for a mighty Sultan laid waste his realm, and sought to do him much mischief.  To avenge his wrong the Soudan commanded his vassals from every place, and assembled a great host.  When the lady knew this, she entered the chamber where the captives lay, and sitting amidst them lifted her hand, and said, “Sirs, you have told me somewhat of your business; now will I be assured whether you are true men or not.  You told me that in your own land you were once the Count of Ponthieu, that this man was wedded to your daughter, and that this other was your son.  Know that I am a Saracen, having the science of astrology; so I tell you plainly that you were never so near to a shameful death, as you are now, if you hide from me the truth.  What chanced to your daughter, the wife of this knight?”

“Lady,” replied the Count, “I deem her to be dead.”