him with, “Say your beads—­say your beads, good signor; it is certain that the Evil One is dealing with you, for were I half so bad as you esteem me, I would kill myself with my own hands.  But I entreat you not to give way to this evil suggestion:  oppose the adversary while you can.”  Hearing these virtuous observations of his wife, and not being able to discover any one after the strictest search, the professor began to think that he must, after all, be possessed, and presently extinguished the lights and returned to the college.  The lady, on shutting the door after him, called out to Bucciolo to come from his hiding place, and then, stirring the fire, began to prepare a fine capon for supper, with some delicious wines and fruits.  And thus they regaled themselves, highly entertained with each other, nor was it their least satisfaction that the professor had just left them, apparently convinced that they had learned nothing at his expense.

Proceeding to the college the next morning, Bucciolo, without the least suspicion of the truth, informed his master that he had something for his ear which he was sure would make him laugh.  “How so?” demanded the professor.  “Why,” said his pupil, “you must know that last night, just as I had entered the lady’s house, who should come in but her husband, and in such a rage!  He searched the whole house from top to bottom, without being able to find me.  I lay under a heap of newly-washed clothes, which were not half dry.  In short, the lady placed her part so well that the poor gentleman forthwith took his leave, and we afterwards ate a fine capon for supper and drank such wines—­and with such zest!  It was really one of the pleasantest evenings I ever spent in my life.  But I think I’ll go and take a nap, for I promised to return this evening about the same hour.”  “Then be sure before you go,” said the professor, trembling with suppressed rage, “be sure to come and tell me when you set out.”  “O certainly,” responded Bucciolo, and away he went.  Such was now the unhappy tutor’s condition as to render him incapable of delivering a single lecture during the whole day, and such was his extreme vexation and eagerness for evening, that he spent his time in arming himself with sword and dagger and cuirass, meditating only upon deeds of blood.  At the appointed time came Bucciolo, with the utmost innocence, saying, “My dear master, I am going now.”  “Yes, go,” replied the professor, “and come back to-morrow morning, if you can, and tell me how you have fared.”  “I intend doing so,” said Bucciolo, and departed at a brisk pace for the house of the lady.