TILT A I/OUTRANCE. 57 



other can be obtained. In fact, if she is a wicked and dissolute 

 woman, may she not endeavour to criminate a loyal man, out 

 of spite at having had her love rejected? Some say that there may 

 be sorcery in the case; and, as has been many times known, the 

 demon may have taken the form of Jacques Legris to involve the 

 lady in the commission of mortal sin. Again, others think that 

 Jacques Legris denies every thing on oath, on the strength of a pre- 

 vious confession for which he has received absolution. Every body, 

 therefore, is much perplexed what to suppose/' 



" I dont imagine, however," said Sebastian, " that a woman 

 would cause such a disturbance solely to revenge herself for the con- 

 tempt of her lover/' " Vengeance is the special pleasure of woman," 

 replied Marcoquet, " as may be seen in holy writ, in the history of 

 Madam Potiphar. As to the lady of Carrouges, she has a heavy 

 stake depending, since, if the matter turn out ill for her cause, she 

 is sentenced to be burnt, and her champion to be hung, dead or 

 alive. However, to-morrow we shall know the result, which you 

 may see with your own eyes, for I suppose you will go to the joust 

 with this traveller, who must have come hither with that intention." 

 " I can tell you nothing, Master Marcoquet," returned the squire, " for 

 I have only known and served him for the last two days ; for the 

 Sire de Coulibeuf, my proper master, at whose castle he stopped at 

 Saint Symphorien, gave me orders to attend him to Paris, instead of 

 his own squire, who has been so much hurt by his horse that he 

 cannot stir for many a day. Now this knight has never spoken a 

 word on the journey, neither has the lady, which makes me sup- 

 pose that they travel to accomplish some pilgrimage or secret vow. 

 All I can say is, that they spend their money very freely, and I think 

 I have done you some service in bringing them to the Porcupine." 

 " For which I render you many thanks, my son," said the host; " and 

 will take good care of you, giving you the best to eat and drink, and 

 a bed fit for a priest ; but for this evening, you must put up with 

 the hay-loft, as I have no other place to offer." 



After this discourse, the two worthies withdrew to rest, and for 

 the remainder of the night all was quiet, except only the cries of a 

 drunken reveller outside, who was waylaid and murdered in the 

 Rue de la Mortellerie.* But scarcely had the day began to dawn, 

 when the silver whistle of the stranger knight summoned the host 

 to his chamber, who found both the lady and himself up and 

 dressed, with their mantles carefully shrouding their persons, and 

 their faces concealed by a covering of serge, which fastened behind 

 the ears. The knight acquitted the reckoning, desired the horses to 

 be saddled, and then departed, after giving directions that the squire, 

 who still slept soundly, should not be disturbed. Marcoquet was at 

 first somewhat vexed at their departure, having calculated on gaining 1 

 handsomely by them; but was soon comforted by seeing fresh 

 crowds of new comers, all on their way to the jousts. 



When the hour before noon arrived, after mass, and dinner, and 



* These " guet-a-pens" were of too frequent occurrence to excite any parti- 

 cular attention. 

 M.M. No. 91. I 



