4 This was of course Margaret herself.—­Ed

     5 Gilles du Mesnil, Lieutenant-General of the presidial
     bailiwick and Senechaussee of Alencon.—­B.  J.

This mode of life lasted a long time, during which she had the Bishop for her profit and the said Du Mesnil for her pleasure.  To the latter she swore that she showed a fair countenance to the Bishop only that their own love might the more freely continue; that the Bishop, in spite of appearances, had obtained only words, from her; and that he, Du Mesnil, might rest assured that no man, save himself, should ever receive aught else.

One day, when her husband was setting forth to visit the Bishop, she asked leave of him to go into the country, saying that the air of the town was injurious to her; and, when she had arrived at her farm, she forthwith wrote to Du Mesnil to come and see her, without fail, at about ten o’clock in the evening.  This the young man did; but as he was entering at the gate he met the maid who was wont to let him in, and who said to him, “Go elsewhere, friend, for your place is taken.”

Supposing that the husband had arrived, he asked her how matters stood.  The woman, seeing that he was so handsome, youthful, and well-bred, and was withal so loving and yet so little loved, took pity upon him and told him of his mistress’s wantonness, thinking that on hearing this he would be cured of loving her so much.  She related to him that the Bishop of Sees had but just arrived, and was now in bed with the lady, a thing which the latter had not expected, for he was not to have come until the morrow.  However, he had detained her husband at his house, and had stolen away at night to come secretly and see her.  If ever man was in despair it was Du Mesnil, who nevertheless was quite unable to believe the story.  He hid himself, however, in a house near by, and watched until three hours after midnight, when he saw the Bishop come forth disguised, yet not so completely but that he could recognise him more readily than he desired.

Du Mesnil in his despair returned to Alencon, whither, likewise, his wicked mistress soon came, and went to speak to him, thinking to deceive him according to her wont.  But he told her that, having touched sacred things, she was too holy to speak to a sinner like himself, albeit his repentance was so great that he hoped his sin would very soon be forgiven him.  When she learnt that her deceit was found out, and that excuses, oaths, and promises never to act in a like way again were of no avail, she complained of it to her Bishop.  Then, having weighed the matter with him, she went to her husband and told him that she could no longer dwell in the town of Alencon, for the Lieutenant’s son, whom he had so greatly esteemed among his friends, pursued her unceasingly to rob her of her honour.  She therefore begged of him to abide at Argentan,(6) in order that all suspicion might be removed.