Now this queen had never heard such words before, and preferred them to the most sweetly sung mass; her pleasure showed itself in her face, which became purple, for these words made her blood boil within her veins, so that the strings of her lute were moved thereat, and struck a sweet note that rang melodiously in her ears, for this lute fills with its music the brain and the body of the ladies, by a sweet artifice of their resonant nature.  What a shame to be young, beautiful, Spanish, and queen, and yet neglected.  She conceived an intense disdain for those of her Court who had kept their lips closed concerning this infidelity, through fear of the king, and determined to revenge herself with the aid of this handsome Frenchman, who cared so little for life that in his first words he had staked it in making a proposition to a queen, which was worthy of death, if she did her duty.  Instead of this, however, she pressed his foot with her own, in a manner that admitted no misconception, and said aloud to him—­

“Sir Knight, let us change the subject, for it is very wrong of you to attack a poor queen in her weak spot.  Tell us the customs of the ladies of the Court of France.”

Thus did the knight receive the delicate hint that the business was arranged.  Then he commenced to talk of merry and pleasant things, which during supper kept the court, the king, the queen, and all the courtiers in a good humour; so much so that when the siege was raised, Leufroid declared that he had never laughed so much in his life.  Then they strolled about the gardens, which were the most beautiful in the world, and the queen made a pretext of the chevalier’s sayings to walk beneath a grove of blossoming orange trees, which yielded a delicious fragrance.

“Lovely and noble queen,” said Gauttier, immediately, “I have seen in all countries the perdition of love have its birth in these first attentions, which we call courtesy; if you have confidence in me, let us agree, as people of high intelligence, to love each other without standing on so much ceremony; by this means no suspicion will be aroused, our happiness will be less dangerous and more lasting.  In this fashion should queens conduct their amours, if they would avoid interference.”

“Well said,” said she.  “But as I am new at this business, I did not know what arrangements to make.”

“Have you are among your women one in whom you have perfect confidence?”

“Yes,” said she; “I have a maid who came from Spain with me, who would put herself on a gridiron for me like St. Lawrence did for God, but she is always poorly.”

“That’s good,” said her companion, “because you go to see her.”

“Yes,” said the queen, “and sometimes at night.”

“Ah!” exclaimed Gauttier, “I make a vow to St. Rosalie, patroness of Sicily, to build her a gold altar for this fortune.”

“O Jesus!” cried the queen.  “I am doubly blessed in having a lover so handsome and yet so religious.”