an extremely fine piece.  And from time to time, when he had not supped with the Master, he would say to him:—­“Last night I was with the company, and being a little tired of the Queen of England, I fetched me the Gumedra of the great Can of Tarisi.”  “Gumedra,” quoth the Master; “what is she?  I know not the meaning of these words.”  “Thereat, Master,” replied Bruno, “I marvel not; for I have heard tell that neither Porcograsso nor Vannacena say aught thereof.”  “Thou wouldst say Ippocrasso and Avicenna,” returned the Master.  “I’faith I know not,” quoth Bruno.  “I as ill know the meaning of your words as you of mine.  But Gumedra in the speech of the great Can signifies the same as Empress in ours.  Ah! a fine woman you would find her, and plenty of her!  I warrant she would make you forget your drugs and prescriptions and plasters.”  And so, Bruno from time to time whetting the Master’s appetite, and the Master at length thinking that by his honourable entreatment of him he had fairly made a conquest of Bruno, it befell that one evening, while he held the light for Bruno, who was at work on the battle of rats and mice, he determined to discover to him his desire; and as they were alone, thus he spoke:—­“God knows, Bruno, that there lives not the man, for whom I would do as much as for thee:  why, if thou wast to bid me go all the way from here to Peretola,(3) I almost think I would do so; wherefore I trust thou wilt not deem it strange if I talk to thee as an intimate friend and in confidence.  Thou knowest ’tis not long since thou didst enlarge with me on thy gay company and their doings, which has engendered in me such a desire as never was to know more thereof.  Nor without reason, as thou wilt discover, should I ever become a member of the said company, for I straightway give thee leave to make game of me, should I not then fetch me the fairest maid thou hast seen this many a day, whom I saw last year at Cacavincigli, and to whom I am entirely devoted; and by the body of Christ I offered her ten Bolognese groats, that she should pleasure me, and she would not.  Wherefore I do most earnestly entreat thee to instruct me what I must do to fit myself for membership in the company; and never doubt that in me you will have a true and loyal comrade, and one that will do you honour.  And above all thou seest how goodly I am of my person, and how well furnished with legs, and of face as fresh as a rose; and therewithal I am a doctor of medicine, and I scarce think you have any such among you; and not a little excellent lore I have, and many a good song by heart, of which I will sing thee one;” and forthwith he fell a singing.