But things are desired all the more for being forbidden, and it was not long before the poor woman had forgotten her husband’s threats and her own promises.  That very same evening she sent to the gentleman, begging him to visit her at night.  But the husband, who was so tormented by jealousy that he could not sleep, and who had heard say that the gentleman visited his wife at night, wrapped himself in a cloak, and taking a valet with him, went to his wife’s apartment and knocked at the door.  She, not in the least expecting him, got up alone, put on furred slippers and a dressing-gown which were lying close at hand, and finding that the three or four women whom she had with her were asleep, went forth from her room and straight to the door at which she had heard the knocking.  On her asking, “Who is there?” she received in answer the name of her lover; but to be still more certain, she opened a little wicket, saying—­

“If you be the man you say you are, show me your hand, and I shall recognise it.”

And when she touched her husband’s hand she knew who it was, and quickly shutting the wicket, cried out—­

“Ha, sir! it is your hand.”

The husband replied in great wrath—­

“Yes; it is the hand that will keep faith with you.  Do not fail, therefore, to come when I send for you.”

With these words he went away to his own apartment, whilst she, more dead than alive, went back into her room, and cried out aloud to her servant-women, “Get up, my friends; you have slept only too well for me, for thinking to trick you, I have myself been tricked.”

With these words she swooned away in the middle of the room.  The women rose at her cry, and were so astonished at seeing their mistress stretched upon the floor, as well as at hearing the words, she had uttered, that they were at their wits’ end, and sought in haste for remedies to restore her.  When she was able to speak, she said to them—­

“You see before you, my friends, the most unhappy creature in the world.”

And thereupon she went on to tell them the whole adventure, and begged of them to help her, for she counted her life as good as lost.

While they were seeking to comfort her, a valet came with orders that she was to repair to her husband instantly.  Thereupon, clinging to two of her women, she began to weep and wail, begging them not to suffer her to go, for she was sure she would be killed.  But the valet assured her to the contrary, offering to pledge his life that she should receive no hurt.  Seeing that she lacked all means of resistance, she at last threw herself into the servant’s arms, and said to him—­

“Since it may not be otherwise, you must e’en carry this hapless body to its death.”

Half fainting in her distress, she was then at once borne by the valet to his master’s apartment.  When she reached it, she fell at her husband’s feet, and said to him—­