Instantly he whistled for one of his pages.  And when the page came, he secretly ordered him to go and seek the Sire d’Hocquetonville, Savoisy, Tanneguy, Cypierre, and other members of his band, asking them to these rooms to supper, not without at the same time inviting to meet his guests a pretty petticoat or two.

Then he came and sat down in his chair again, ten paces from the lady, off whom he had not taken his eye while giving his commands to the page in a whisper.

“Raoul is jealous,” said he.  “Now let me give you a word of advice.  In this place,” he added, pointing to a secret door, “are the oils and superfine perfumes of the queen; in this other little closet she performs her ablutions and little feminine offices.  I know by much experience that each one of you gentle creatures has her own special perfume, by which she is smelt and recognised.  So if, as you say, Raoul is overwhelmingly jealous with the worst of all jealousies, you will use these fast hussies’ scents, because your danger approaches fast.”

“Ah, my lord, what do you intend to do?”

“You will know when it is necessary that you should know.  I wish you no harm, and pledge you my honour, as a loyal knight, that I will almost thoroughly respect you, and be forever silent concerning my discomfiture.  In short, you will know that the Duc d’Orleans has a good heart, and revenges himself nobly on ladies who treat him with disdain, by placing in their hands the key of Paradise.  Only keep your ears open to the joyous words that will be handed from mouth to mouth in the next room, and cough not if you love your children.”

Since there was no egress from the royal chamber, and the bars crossing hardly left room to put one’s head through, the good prince closed the door of the room, certain of keeping the lady a safe prisoner there, and again impressed upon her the necessity of silence.  Then came the merry blades in great haste, and found a good and substantial supper smiling at them from the silver plates upon the table, and the table well arranged and well lighted, loaded with fine silver cups, and cups full of royal wine.  Then said their master to them—­

“Come!  Come! to your places my good friends.  I was becoming very weary.  Thinking of you, I wished to arrange with you a merry feast after the ancient method, when the Greeks and Romans said their Pater noster to Master Priapus, and the learned god called in all countries Bacchus.  The feast will be proper and a right hearty one, since at our libation there will be present some pretty crows with three beaks, of which I know from great experience the best one to kiss.”

Then all of them recognising their master in all things, took pleasure in this discourse, except Raoul d’Hocquetonville, who advanced and said to the prince—­

“My lord, I will aid you willingly in any battle but that of the petticoats, in that of spear and axe, but not of the wine flasks.  My good companions here present have not wives at home, it is otherwise with me.  I have a sweet wife, to whom I owe my company, and an account of all my deeds and actions.”