The King made answer very tenderly, “Fair friend, you need not fear.  There will never be wife of mine to put you from me.  I shall never wed, except your husband die, and then it is you who would be my queen and lady.  I will leave you for no other dame.”

The lady thanked him sweetly for his words.  Much was she beholden to him in her heart.  Since she was assured that he would not leave her for any other, she turned over swiftly in her mind the profit that would come from her husband’s death.  Much happiness might be bought at a little cost, if Equitan would lend his aid.

The King made answer that he would do her will to the utmost of his power, whether her counsel were for good or evil.

“Sire,” said the lady, “let it please you to hunt the forest within the country where I dwell.  You can lodge in my lord’s castle, and there you must be bled.  Three days after your surgery is done, you must call for your bath.  My lord shall be bled with you, so that he may go to his bathing at the same time.  It will be your part to keep him at your side, and make him your constant companion.  It will be mine to heat the water, and to carry the baths to your chamber.  My husband’s bath shall boil so fiercely, that no breathing man, having entered therein, may come forth living.  When he is dead you must call for your people, and show them how the seneschal has died suddenly in his bath.”

Because of his love the King granted her desire, and promised to do according to her will.  Before three months were done the King rode to the chase within the lady’s realm.  He caused surgeons to bleed him for his health, and the seneschal with him.  He said that he would take his bath on the third day, and the seneschal required his, too, to be made ready.  The lady caused the water to be heated, and carried the baths to the chamber.  According to her device she set a bath beside each bed, filling with boiling water that bath which her lord should enter.  Her lord had gone forth for a little, so for a space the King and the lady were alone.  They sat on the husband’s bed, and looked tenderly each on the other, near by that heated bath.  The door of the chamber was kept by a young damsel to give them warning.  The seneschal made haste to return, and would have struck on the door of the chamber, but was stayed by the maiden.  He put her by, and in his impatience flung the door wide open.  Entering he found his master and his wife clasped in each other’s arms.  When the King saw the seneschal he had no thought but to hide his dishonour.  He started up, and sprang with joined feet in the bath that was filled with boiling water.  There he perished miserably, in the very snare he had spread for another, who was safe and sound.  The seneschal marked what had happened to the King.  In his rage he turned to his wife, and laying hands upon her thrust her, head first, in the self-same bath.  So they died together, the King first, and the lady afterwards, with him.