Amadour altogether despaired of ever again seeing her whom he had loved so long, and from whom he had received no other treatment than I have described.  Racked by secret passion and by despair at losing all means of consorting with her, he resolved to play at double or quits, and either lose her altogether or else wholly win her, and so pay himself in an hour the reward which he thought he had deserved.  Accordingly he had his bed curtained in such a manner that those who came into the room could not see him; and he complained so much more than he had done previously that all the people of the house thought he had not twenty-four hours to live.

After every one else had visited him, Florida, at the request of her husband himself, came in the evening, hoping to comfort him by declaring her affection and by telling him that, so far as honour allowed, she was willing to love him.  She sat down on a chair beside the head of his bed, and began her consolation by weeping with him.  Amadour, seeing her filled with such sorrow, thought that in her distress he might the more readily achieve his purpose, and raised himself up in the bed.  Florida, thinking that he was too weak to do this, sought to prevent him, but he threw himself on his knees before her saying, “Must I lose sight of you for ever?” Then he fell into her arms like one exhausted.  The hapless Florida embraced him and supported him for a long time, doing all she could to comfort him.  But what she offered him to cure his pain only increased it; and while feigning to be half dead, he, without saying a word, strove to obtain that which the honour of ladies forbids.

When Florida perceived his evil purpose, in which she could hardly believe after all his honourable conversation, she asked him what he sought to do.  Amadour, fearing her reply, which he knew could not be otherwise than chaste and virtuous, said nothing, but pursued his attempt with all the strength that he could muster.  Florida, greatly astonished, suspected rather that he had lost his senses than that he was really bent upon her dishonour, and called out to a gentleman whom she knew to be in the room; whereupon Amadour in extreme despair flung himself back upon his bed so suddenly that the gentleman thought him dead.

Florida, who had risen from her chair, then said to the gentleman—­

“Go quickly for some strong vinegar.”

This the gentleman did, whereupon Florida said—­

“What madness, Amadour, has mounted to your brain?  What was it you thought and wished to do?”

Amadour, who had lost all reason in the vehemence of his love, replied—­

“Does so long a service merit so cruel a reward?”

“And what of the honour of which you have so often preached to me?” said Florida.