"No, madam, I did not know that." "It is the custom in Germany. Alas, Morise, I repeat it, would that that wisp of straw had been a dagger! I would have died without undergoing my present agony. And now that I know about the murder of Wisigarde, my life will be but one long and cruel agony." "But, madam, you should have refused to wed the count, seeing he inspired you with such horror." "I dared not, Morise. Oh, he will surely kill me! Woe is me! He will kill me!" "Why think you, madam, that he will commit such a crime again? You never as much as whisper a word, whatever he may do or say. He abuses us, the female slaves, seeing he is master, and you never complain; you never set foot outside of the women's apartments, except for a short walk along the fosse of the burg. Why, madam, I ask you, do you apprehend that your husband will kill you?" "When he is intoxicated he does not reason." "That is true--there is always that danger." "But that danger is continuous; he is every day intoxicated. Oh, why did I come to this distant region of Gaul, where I feel an utter stranger!" And after a long interval of sad revery: "Morise--my good Morise!" "Madam, I am at your orders." "You, all of you slaves, do not hate me, do you?" "No, madam; you are not wicked like Wisigarde--you never whip and bite us." "Morise, listen to me." "Madam, I listen. But why are you silent? And your cheeks, otherwise so pale, growing incarnate--" "It is because I dare not tell you. But listen, you are--you are--one of monseigneur the count's favorites." "I have no choice--if not willingly, I must submit by force. Despite my repugnance for him, I prefer to share his bed whenever he orders me, than to be striped by his whip, or be sent out to turn the wheel of the mill; and by quietly submitting, I am employed in household work; that is easier than to be employed at the hard labor of the fields--it is a choice of evils--this is the lesser, and the food is not as poor." "I know--I know. I do not blame you, Morise. But answer me without lying: when you are with the count, you do not, do you, seek to irritate him against me? Alas, we know of slaves who have in that way caused the death of their mistresses, and who thereupon became their seigneur's wife." "I have such an aversion for him, madam, that I swear I never open my mouth but to say 'yes' or 'no' in answer to any question that he may put to me. Moreover, since he is always intoxicated at night when he calls me in, he hardly speaks. You see I have neither the chance nor the wish of speaking to him against you." "Is that really true, Morise? Really?" "Yes, yes, madam."