“I will wager,” said the duke, smiling, “that, nevertheless, for the future you spur the Sire d’Hocquetonville to a little sharper pace.”

At this the good woman trembled, and cried, “You are a wicked man.  Now I both despise and abominate you!  What! unable to rob me of my honour, you attempt to poison my mind!  Ah, my lord, this night’s work will cost you dear—­

    “If I forget it, a yet,
     God will not forget.

“Are not those of verse is yours?”

“Madame,” said the duke, turning pale with anger, “I can have you bound—­”

“Oh no!  I can free myself,” replied she, brandishing the stiletto.

The rapscallion began to laugh.

“Never mind,” said he.  “I have a means of plunging you into the sloughs of three brazen hussies, as you call them.”

“Never, while I live.”

“Head and heels you shall go in—­with your two feet, two hands, two ivory breasts, and two other things, white as snow—­your teeth, your hair, and everything.  You will go of your own accord; you shall enter into it lasciviously, and in a way to crush your cavalier, as a wild horse does its rider—­stamping, leaping, and snorting.  I swear it by Saint Castud!”

Instantly he whistled for one of his pages.  And when the page came, he secretly ordered him to go and seek the Sire d’Hocquetonville, Savoisy, Tanneguy, Cypierre, and other members of his band, asking them to these rooms to supper, not without at the same time inviting to meet his guests a pretty petticoat or two.

Then he came and sat down in his chair again, ten paces from the lady, off whom he had not taken his eye while giving his commands to the page in a whisper.

“Raoul is jealous,” said he.  “Now let me give you a word of advice.  In this place,” he added, pointing to a secret door, “are the oils and superfine perfumes of the queen; in this other little closet she performs her ablutions and little feminine offices.  I know by much experience that each one of you gentle creatures has her own special perfume, by which she is smelt and recognised.  So if, as you say, Raoul is overwhelmingly jealous with the worst of all jealousies, you will use these fast hussies’ scents, because your danger approaches fast.”

“Ah, my lord, what do you intend to do?”

“You will know when it is necessary that you should know.  I wish you no harm, and pledge you my honour, as a loyal knight, that I will almost thoroughly respect you, and be forever silent concerning my discomfiture.  In short, you will know that the Duc d’Orleans has a good heart, and revenges himself nobly on ladies who treat him with disdain, by placing in their hands the key of Paradise.  Only keep your ears open to the joyous words that will be handed from mouth to mouth in the next room, and cough not if you love your children.”