“Wait, master secretary, for a little; I am going to find out whether it be my husband’s pleasure that I should go up to you.” His face when laughing was ugly indeed, and you may imagine, ladies, how it looked when he wept; but he came down instantly, with tears in his eyes, and besought her for the love of God not to say aught that would destroy the friendship between his comrade and himself. “I am sure,” she replied, “that you like him too well to say anything he may not hear. I shall therefore go and tell him of the matter.” And this, in spite of all his entreaties and threats, she did. And if his shame thereat was great as he fled the place, the husband’s joy was no less on hearing of the honourable deception that his wife had practised; indeed, so pleased was he with his wife’s virtue that he took no notice of his comrade’s viciousness, deeming him sufficiently punished inasmuch as the shame he had thought to work in another’s household had fallen upon his own head. “I think that from this tale honest people should learn not to admit to their houses those whose conscience, heart and understanding know nought of God, honour and true love.” “Though your tale be short,” said Oisille, “it is as pleasant as any I have heard, and it is to the honour of a virtuous woman.” “‘Fore God,” said Simontault, “it is no great honour for a virtuous woman to refuse a man so ugly as you represent this secretary to have been. Had he been handsome and polite, her virtue would then have been clear. I think I know who he is, and, if it were my turn, I could tell you another story about him that is no less droll.” “Let that be no hindrance,” said Ennasuite, “for I give you my vote.” Thereupon Simontault began as follows:-- “Those who are accustomed to dwell at Court or in large towns value their own knowledge so highly that they think very little of all other men in comparison with themselves; but, for all that, there are subtle and crafty folk to be found in every condition of life. Still, when those who think themselves the cleverest are caught tripping, their pride makes the jest a particularly pleasant one, and this I will try to show by telling you of something that lately happened.” [Illustration: 175.jpg Tailpiece] [Illustration: 177a.jpg The Secretary Opening the Pasty] [The Secretary Opening the Pasty] [Illustration: 177.jpg Page Image] _TALE XXVIII_. _A secretary, thinking to deceive Bernard du Ha, was by him cunningly deceived_. (1) 1 The incidents of this story must have occurred subsequent to 1527. The secretary is doubtless John Frotté. We have failed to identify the Lieutenant referred to.--M. and Ed.