“However the door being now, as I have said, open, and the smoke somewhat less dense, Ercolano, peering in, espied the fellow that had sneezed, and who still kept sneezing, being thereto constrained by the pungency of the brimstone.  And for all he sneezed, yet was he by this time so well-nigh choked with the brimstone that he was like neither to sneeze nor to do aught else again.  As soon as he caught sight of him, Ercolano bawled out:—­’Now see I, Madam, why it was that a while ago, when we came here, we were kept waiting so long at the gate before ’twas opened; but woe betide me for the rest of my days, if I pay you not out.’  Whereupon the lady, perceiving that her offence was discovered, ventured no excuse, but fled from the table, whither I know not.  Ercolano, ignoring his wife’s flight, bade the sneezer again and again to come forth; but he, being by this time fairly spent, budged not an inch for aught that Ercolano said.  Wherefore Ercolano caught him by one of his feet, and dragged him forth, and ran off for a knife with intent to kill him; but I, standing in fear of the Signory on my own account, got up and would not suffer him to kill the fellow or do him any hurt, and for his better protection raised the alarm, whereby some of the neighbours came up and took the lad, more dead than alive, and bore him off, I know not whither.  However, our supper being thus rudely interrupted, not only have not gulped it, but I have not so much as tasted it, as I said before!”

Her husband’s story shewed his wife that there were other ladies as knowing as she, albeit misfortune might sometimes overtake them and gladly would she have spoken out in defence of Ercolano’s wife, but, thinking that, by censuring another’s sin, she would secure more scope for her own, she launched out on this wise:—­“Fine doings indeed, a right virtuous and saintly lady she must be:  here is the loyalty of an honest woman, and one to whom I had lief have confessed, so spiritual I deemed her; and the worst of it is that, being no longer young, she sets a rare example to those that are so.  Curses on the hour that she came into the world:  curses upon her that she make not away with herself, basest, most faithless of women that she must needs be, the reproach of her sex, the opprobrium of all the ladies of this city, to cast aside all regard for her honour, her marriage vow, her reputation before the world, and, lost to all sense of shame, to scruple not to bring disgrace upon a man so worthy, a citizen so honourable, a husband by whom she was so well treated, ay, and upon herself to boot!  By my hope of salvation no mercy should be shewn to such women; they should pay the penalty with their lives; to the fire with them while they yet live, and let them be burned to ashes.”  Then, calling to mind the lover that she had close at hand in the hen-coop, she fell to coaxing Pietro to get him to bed, for the hour grew late.  Pietro, who was more set on eating than sleeping, only asked whether there was aught he might have by way of supper.  “Supper, forsooth!” replied the lady.  “Ay, of course ’tis our way to make much of supper when thou art not at home.  As if I were Ercolano’s wife!  Now, wherefore tarry longer?  Go, get thy night’s rest:  ’twere far better for thee.”