My eldest brother, whose name was Bacbouc the hump-back, was a tailor:  when he came out of his apprenticeship, he hired a shop opposite a mill, and having but very little business, could scarcely maintain himself.  The miller, on the contrary, was very wealthy, and had a handsome wife.  One day as my brother was at work in his shop, he saw the miller’s wife looking out of the window, and was charmed with her beauty.  The woman took no notice of him, but shut her window, and made her appearance no more that day The poor tailor did nothing all day long but lift up his eyes towards the mill.  He pricked his finger oftener than once, and his work was not very regular.  At night, when he was to shut his shop, he could scarcely tell how to do it, because he still hoped the miller’s wife would once more come to the window; but at last he was forced to shut up, and go home, where he passed but a very uncomfortable night.  He arose betimes in the morning, and ran to his shop, in hopes to see his mistress; but he was no happier than the day before, for the miller’s wife did not appear at the window above a minute in the course of the day, but that minute made the tailor the most amorous man that ever lived.  The third day he had more ground of satisfaction, for the miller’s wife cast her eyes upon him by chance, and surprised him as he was gazing at her, which convinced her of what passed in his mind.

No sooner did the miller’s wife perceive my brother’s inclination, than, instead of allowing it to excite her resentment, she resolved to divert herself with it.  She looked at him with a smiling countenance, and my brother returned her smile, but in so ludicrous a way, that the miller’s wife hastily shut her window, lest her loud laughter should make him sensible that she only ridiculed him.  Poor Bacbouc interpreted her carriage to his own advantage, and flattered himself that she looked upon him with pleasure.

The miller’s wife resolved to have sport with my brother:  she had a piece of very fine stuff, with which she had a long time designed to make a vest; she wrapped it up in a fine embroidered silk handkerchief, and sent it to him by a young slave whom she kept; who being taught her lesson, went to the tailor’s shop, and told him, “My mistress gives you her service, and prays you to make her a vest of this stuff according to this pattern; she changes her dress often, so that her custom will be profitable to you.”  My brother doubted not but the miller’s wife loved him, and thought she had sent him work so soon after what had passed betwixt them, only to signify that she knew his mind, and convince him that he had obtained her favour.  He charged the slave to tell her mistress, that he would lay aside all work for hers and that the vest should be ready next morning.  He worked at it with so much diligence, that he finished it in the course of the same day.  Next morning the young slave came to see if the vest was ready.  Bacbouc