and so he kept him several days:  then, having marked that the abbot had eaten some dried beans that he had secretly brought and left there of set purpose, he asked him in Ghino’s name how he felt in the stomach.  “Were I but out of Ghino’s hands,” replied the abbot, “I should feel myself well, indeed:  next to which, I desire most of all a good breakfast, so excellent a cure have his medicines wrought on me.”  Whereupon Ghino caused the abbot’s servants to furnish a goodly chamber with the abbot’s own effects, and there on the morrow make ready a grand banquet, at which all the abbot’s suite and not a few of the garrison being assembled, he hied him to the abbot, and:—­“Sir,” quoth he, “’tis time you left the infirmary, seeing that you now feel yourself well;” and so saying, he took him by the hand, and led him into the chamber made ready for him, and having left him there with his own people, made it his chief concern that the banquet should be magnificent.  The abbot’s spirits revived as he found himself again among his men, with whom he talked a while, telling them how he had been entreated, wherewith they contrasted the signal honour which they, on the other hand, had, one and all, received from Ghino.

Breakfast-time came, and with order meet the abbot and the rest were regaled with good viands and good wines, Ghino still suffering not the abbot to know who he was.  But when the abbot had thus passed several days, Ghino, having first had all his effects collected in a saloon, and all his horses, to the poorest jade, in the courtyard below, hied him to the abbot and asked him how he felt, and if he deemed himself strong enough to ride.  The abbot replied that he was quite strong enough, and that ’twould be well indeed with him, were he once out of Ghino’s hands.  Ghino then led him into the saloon in which were his effects and all his retinue, and having brought him to a window, whence he might see all his horses:—­“Sir Abbot,” quoth he, “you must know that ’tis not for that he has an evil heart, but because, being a gentleman, he is banished from his home, and reduced to poverty, and has not a few powerful enemies, that in defence of his life and honour, Ghino di Tacco, whom you see before you, has become a robber of highways and an enemy to the court of Rome.  But such as I am, I have cured you of your malady of the stomach, and taking you to be a worthy lord, I purpose not to treat you as I would another, from whom, were he in my hands, as you are, I should take such part of his goods as I should think fit; but I shall leave it to you, upon consideration of my need, to assign to me such portion of your goods as you yourself shall determine.  Here are they before you undiminished and unimpaired, and from this window you may see your horses below in the courtyard; wherefore take the part or take the whole, as you may see fit, and be it at your option to tarry here, or go hence, from this hour forth.”